Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government extended the designation of Scotland’s current network of Enterprise Areas until March 2022. Informed by findings from a survey we commissioned in November 2020 regarding place-based economic initiatives, and the report of a Scottish Enterprise evaluation of Enterprise Areas, the future format for Enterprise Areas will be confirmed later this year.

The following data is based on an HGV being defined as a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes:

For A77 trunk road (from south of M77 Junction 8 to junction with A75 at Stranraer)

Scottish Ministers, through Transport Scotland, are responsible for 2 Trunk Roads in South Ayrshire, the A77 and A78. Transport Scotland’s Operating Company for the South West Unit, Amey is allocated an overall maintenance budget for the Trunk Roads within this unit. Amey and Transport Scotland agree which areas require improvements or repairs, the urgency of any works and programming any works using the funds available. The following table shows the actual spend for these roads from 2018. These include minor improvements, bridge improvements and structural maintenance costs. It should also be noted that these figures are for the whole of the A77 and A78 routes, however not all of the routes lie within South Ayrshire. Investment in the A77 also continues with the construction of the Maybole bypass, which has a construction cost of £29 million, currently ongoing and is anticipated to be completed in winter 2021.

Amey is the operating company with responsibility for the A77. Acting on behalf of Transport Scotland, they are currently undertaking a route assessment of all junctions between Monktonhead and Smithston.

Amey have recommended an approach to identifying short-term future demand by taking information from Transport Assessments prepared to support new development in the area, this is currently being consider by Transport Scotland.

For longer term forecasts, Transport Forecasts 2021 will be published later this year, these are currently in development and are being used in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

These will update the published Transport Forecasts 2018, which build in committed development and Local Plan Development allocations from the local authorities, along with committed transport interventions. Since the previous publication, the demand for transport has been considerably impacted by COVID19 leading to unprecedented changes in how we access employment, services, leisure and goods.

The Scottish Government has worked in collaboratively with Public Sector and Third Sector colleagues to produce a number of assets as part of the marketing and communications strategy for the COVID-19 vaccination programme, some of which are outlined below:

1. In partnership with BEMIS and the Ethnic Minority National Resilience Network (EMNRN) we have gathered feedback from ME organisations to shape inclusive communications, which has influenced messaging and available formats. For example, we have used the insight to create a ‘Vaccine Explainer Video’ which provides key facts about the Covid vaccines for those who may be hesitant, or for those more likely to have been exposed to myths/misinformation. This video is currently being produced in BSL and in multiple community languages.

2. Key campaign information leaflets about the vaccine have been translated in various languages and accessible formats for inclusion on NHS Inform vaccine content for distribution via stakeholders.

3. Translated versions of the Roll Up Your Sleeves TV Campaign videos were produced in 7 community languages (Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Polish, Romanian, Urdu and Punjabi), with further translations development for the campaign targeting 18-49 year olds.

4. Translated versions of the ‘What to Expect at a Vaccination Site’ Walkthrough Video was created in partnership with PHS and MECOPP, with development including considerations to accessible wording and content.

5. A Ramadan Film was created in April 2021 in partnership with the British Islamic Medical Association – This video was to reassure Muslims who were concerned about getting the vaccine while fasting.

6. A Stakeholder Toolkit specifically created for ME communities for Phase 3 of Roll Up Your Sleeves was launched in April 2021 to all relevant stakeholders. The toolkit included social media posts which signposted to the language-specific pages PHS created.

7. A Myth Busting Film fronted by Dr Punam Krishan was launched in May 2021 and was reviewed by ME groups to ensure accessible wording/content and translated into 10 community languages. It addresses concerns about the vaccine such as not containing pork or animal origin and that it won’t alter DNA. This was shared on Dr Krishan’s IGTV, through SG channels and shared via PHS and NHS Boards.

Other examples of initiatives can be found in the Vaccine Deployment Plan: Coronavirus (COVID-19): vaccine deployment plan: update - March 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Shortages of medicines are an ongoing part of the day to day management of the NHS. The pricing and supply of medicines are reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government have regular engagement with the UK Government regarding the management medicine shortages as part of the UK Medicine Shortage Response Group.

Medicine shortages can occur for a range of reasons including supplier difficulty in sourcing core ingredients, removal of drugs from pharmaceutical provider lists and international supply issues. Most shortages are short in nature. Shortages are ameliorated by prescribing alternative medicines or therapeutics until a shortage is over. Information on current and ongoing supply issues relating to individual drugs or devices is shared by NHS Scotland via Medicine Supply Alert Notices (MSAN) with the relevant networks within the service to help prescribers and dispensers meet patients’ on-going medical needs. MSANs are published at SHOW - SGHSC - Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates . The NHS Scotland Prescribing Advisers’ Network provides support to prescribers on the use of alternative products.

The Scottish Government is expecting a report on progressive stroke services by the end of December 2021. This Report will help to support and drive improvement in stroke services across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people who have had a stroke receive the best possible care as quickly as possible to enable them to live longer, healthier independent lives. That’s why the Programme for Government 2019-20 commits to ensuring that improvements are made to stroke pathways and services, including prevention, treatment and care. Work is ongoing to deliver against those commitments.

We are not currently vaccinating children under 16 years old, except for those seriously at risk. As COVID-19 vaccines are currently unlicensed for those under 16, vaccines can only be offered on an exceptional case by case basis by a prescriber based on a risk assessment of an individual.

Clinical trials are currently underway for vaccination of children and young people, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is currently reviewing vaccinations for 12-15 year olds.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with vaccine developers and the JCVI so that if trials are successful we are ready to vaccinate younger age groups, if that is what the clinical and scientific evidence supports.

To manage the volume of vaccination appointments based on available supply we intentionally limited the initial functionality of the Citizen Portal system. The portal can currently be used to reschedule appointments. Unpaid carers and 18-29 year olds can also register online to receive their appointment.

We are exploring ways to allow people to book their own appointments.

Neither the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care, nor Scottish Government officials have engaged with ServiceNow. NHS National Services Scotland are responsible for the development and operational performance of the Service Now platform which is used as part of the overall digital solution for Covid Vaccinations, and it is for NHS National Services Scotland to manage the performance of their suppliers.