Chamber and committees

Transport Scotland, through its Trunk Road Operating Companies and Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) Concessionaires, is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network, including motorways. Repair of potholes on all other roads is the responsibility of the local authorities.

The Outline Business Case will, when fully endorsed, be published on the Transport Scotland website as is normal practice.

Transport Scotland would not routinely publish the other completed areas of work including the development of a concept timetable. However, progress on this project has been and will continue to be shared at regular intervals with key stakeholders.

As Nitrous Oxide is not classed as a controlled substance under the reserved Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, it is not routinely screened for in toxicology testing.

The National Records of Scotland do publish ‘Accidental poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances’, but do not provide specific substance breakdowns.

Analysis of hospital admissions in relation to Nitrous Oxide would be limited by use of the ICD-10 diagnostic coding system. Nitrous Oxide use is coded within the ‘inhalant’ or ‘volatile substance’ category (F18), but this also contains other substances such as butane and glue, so it isn’t possible to narrow it down to the admissions specific to nitrous. There is also no mention of intentionality (i.e. recreational use) within these data.

This is a matter for NHS Scotland Health Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

Information on dental activity is not held at a West Lothian level. Public Health Scotland presently publish information on activity at a national level and this shows that over 1.6 million NHS examination appointment were completed between April and October 2022, with an average of more than 300,000 course of treatment per month.

However, the most recent participation statistics, which measure the number of registered patients who have had contact with a NHS dentist over a two year period, are available at a Lothian level and show that we are on the road to recovery. Participation statistics for Lothian shows that as at 30 September 2022, 432,249 people in Lothian had contact with a NHS dentist, compared to 372,513 as at 31 March 2022. This means there has been an increase of 59,736 people accessing NHS dental services in Lothian between March and September 2022.

We are in year 5 of delivery of the Framework, which has seen the adoption of effective and evidence based treatments across Scotland. Through regular investment, we continue to support NHS boards to improve weight management services.

In 2022-23, NHS Scotland health boards were allocated £5,946,496 to support the implementation of the Framework. With investment to date, boards have continued to expand the delivery of weight management services and incorporated digital platforms, in line with our national standards . These standards aim to ensure a fair and equal approach in weight management services in Scotland. We have committed to funding the continued implementation of the Framework for at least the duration of this parliamentary term, to 2026-27.

To support health boards in planning and implementing the Framework, we have appointed two professional advisers. They provide direct support to boards through attendance at local oversight groups and in the setting of annual milestones to ensure Framework delivery. Alongside this, Framework implementation is monitored by our national oversight group.

Any shooting from above the high water mark of ordinary spring tides, without the landowner's permission, is an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. As with all wildlife crime, enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland.

Through the Framework for the Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention of Type 2 Diabetes (The Framework), Scottish Government are supporting NHS boards to develop and enhance pathways for those diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

The Framework identifies those with gestational diabetes as being at high risk of developing type 2 Diabetes after pregnancy. Through the implementation of the Framework, NHS boards offer those diagnosed with gestational diabetes timely access to type 2 Diabetes prevention education, specialist dietetic treatment and, where appropriate, access to a suitable weight management programme after their pregnancy.

Using investment in the Framework to date, Scotland’s NHS Health boards have developed enhanced options for pregnant women for treatment of gestational diabetes in pregnancy. These involve education and clinical support provided by specialist midwives and dietitians. The results of this have seen a significant number of pregnant women controlling their blood-sugar levels through diet alone. The investment in 2021-22 is referenced in response to S6W-14363 on 6 February 2023.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

There is no specific legislation that prohibits the shooting of wildfowl within 10 yards of locations where birds fly in to roost.

The rules applying to the hunting of wildfowl are set out in the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. These rules do not prohibit the shooting of wildfowl within 10 yards of locations where birds fly in to roost. The Scottish Government is not aware of any reason to introduce such a prohibition.

This is a matter for NHS Scotland Health Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.