Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the outcomes of further research to ensure that any decisions to make Evusheld ® available to patients in Scotland in the future are based on the best available evidence. The RAPID C-19 group is a collaborative UK-wide partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and others. To date, the RAPID C-19 group and the COVID-19 UK expert panel have both considered a full range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro (in the laboratory) analysis and observational studies and have advised that there is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the procurement and deployment of Evusheld ® .

The RAPID C-19 group is keeping this position under active review, including through monitoring any emerging data. Building on the work of the RAPID C-19 group, the SMC is exploring the potential for collaboration with NICE on a single technology assessment (STA) of tixagevimab–cilgavimab (Evusheld ® ) for the prevention of COVID-19. In order to gain further evidence, consideration is also being given to establishing a clinical trial as a route to answering outstanding questions on the link between in vitro tests and clinical outcomes for current and future variants, which is currently not known. The trial may also assist with evaluating the effectiveness and safety of a higher dose of 600mg, which is now being used in a number of countries, which have previously purchased Evusheld®, as this was not tested in the company’s randomised controlled trials.

I have recently written to the UK Government supporting the establishment of a clinical trial and stating my wish to see individuals in Scotland included.

No data is collected on the return or disposal of medicines due to the difficult nature of quantifying and recording this information. Health Boards are responsible for ensuring unused medicines are safely disposed of, though are not required to record this data.

Of the 750 additional NHS nurses, midwives and allied health professionals NHS boards collectively have told Scottish Government the number of international recruits they could accommodate, (a) up to 53 were indicated by NHS Ayrshire and Arran and (b) up to 217 by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the statutory body for qualification awarding and regulation in Scotland. As an awarding body, SQA develops, maintains, and improves a range of SQA qualifications. These can be gained through learning at Scotland’s schools, colleges, employers and training providers.

In addition, SQA’s Accreditation Unit approves all awarding bodies operating in Scotland that deliver SQA qualifications. A list of these can be found on their website: SQA Accreditation - Approved Awarding Bodies .

However, SQA approval is not required to operate in Scotland (only to deliver SQA accredited qualifications). As such, a range of other awarding bodies operate in Scotland, delivering assessed learning and awards. We do not hold a list of these bodies.

Furthermore, there are currently several Credit Rating Bodies that, along with the SQA’s accreditation unit, have been approved to assign a Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level. The list of CRBs (mainly colleges and universities) are available on the SCQF website: SCQF Database | Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

The Scottish Government offers funding to support upgrades of older oil and gas heating systems to low carbon alternatives, including in rural areas. This includes via the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, the Home Energy Scotland cashback and loan scheme, local authority Area-Based Scheme, the SME Loan and Cashback scheme, the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund and the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme.

Many of these support schemes include a rural and islands uplift to reflect higher delivery costs in more remote areas.

Warmer Homes Scotland offers fully funded grant support for replacement heating systems for those at risk of fuel poverty impacts, offering gas boilers only where a zero emissions heating system is not feasible.

The Scottish Government committed to publishing a refresh of the 2017 Energy Strategy in the Programme for Government and as part of the Bute House Agreement. Following the Scottish Government's response to the Just Transition Commission, we committed to publishing a Just Transition Plan for energy, which will be integrated with the forthcoming Energy Strategy Refresh to ensure a cohesive and joined up framework for action.

In parliament on 29 March 2022, I announced that the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP) would be published in Autumn 2022 for consultation.

We intend to publish the draft ESJTP for consultation in the coming months.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) discussed the Deposit Return Scheme with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy on 24 March 2022 and myself on 31 October 2022. Scottish Government officials also meet regularly with small brewers’ representatives, most commonly through the DRS System-Wide Assurance Group, of which SIBA is a member.

No modelling has been carried out to ascertain the impact of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on donations of drinks to charities and other good causes.

As the scheme is cost neutral to consumers, provided they return their empty containers in order to redeem the deposit, we do not expect DRS to affect donation habits.

Save a Life for Scotland maintain a portal showing how many people have been equipped with CPR skills by partners in the delivery of the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy.

Recent figures can be found here: Home - Save a Life for Scotland .

Beyond this, The Scottish Health Survey 2021 , published 8 November 2022, finds that nearly two thirds of adults have reported ever attending CPR training.

The £53 million announced as a saving was intended to support additional employability activity around child poverty in 2022-23. At a time of acute labour shortages, historically low unemployment and soaring inflation, we have taken the view that we must prioritise money in people’s pockets now over spending on employability which is unlikely to result in immediate benefits for individuals, but this is not a decision we have taken lightly. However, this decision will not result in services people are already accessing being reduced. We have maintained our core investment in employability this year, with over £82 million available to ensure those who require support will continue to receive it.

Our commitments in Best Start Bright Futures were made over the lifetime of the plan. Whilst this decision will have an impact on the numbers we aimed to support this year, our commitment to ensuring employability plays its part in tackling child poverty remains. Employment outcomes are subject to a time lag depending on the length of time an individual requires support. In addition, our services are voluntary, demand led, and based on the principle of supporting people into the right job at the right time – low quality jobs that are quickly gained will not necessarily lead to an increase in household income and a reduction in poverty.