Chamber and committees

Information on dementia patients being moved between wards at night (boarding) in each year since 1999 is not collected or held centrally

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02989 on‎ 27 September 2021. 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

We expect NHS Boards to ensure that people with osteoporosis, including those who may be awaiting a bone-density scan, have timely access to high-quality care as set out in the SIGN guideline Management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.

On 25 August we launched our NHS Recovery Plan which is backed by more than £1bn of investment over the next five years. The plan sets out how we will invest more than £400m to create a network of 10 National Treatment Centres across Scotland, increasing capacity for planned elective procedures and diagnostic care. The plan takes forward our aim of increasing NHS capacity by at least 10% as quickly as possible in order to address the backlog of care and meet the ongoing healthcare needs for people across the country.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02919 on‎ 27 September 2021. 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.

The age ranges for each of the screening programmes, including the breast screening programme, are based on evidence about the risks and benefits of screening people at different ages. They are developed in line with advice from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which informs decisions taken across the UK on screening programmes, including those taken by the Scottish Government. Currently their recommendation is to invite women aged between 50 and 70 for routine breast screening every three years.

The UK NSC review their recommendations as new evidence that could improve outcomes emerges. The previous review cycle for the breast screening programme was completed in 2019 and the next cycle is estimated to complete in 2022-2023.

Women over the age of 71 usually have the option to self-refer into the breast screening programme, however this option is currently paused to allow the programme to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and will resume as soon as capacity allows.

In the meantime, it remains important for women at any age to be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and to report any concerns to a GP so that these can be thoroughly investigated. More information on symptoms can be found on the NHS Inform website at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/breast-cancer-female#symptoms-of-breast-cancer.

The Scottish Government and all associated agencies, are currently working towards the targets set out in the 2019-20 Programme for Government, where we outlined our commitment to phase out the need for all petrol or diesel cars in the public sector fleet by 2025 and for all other new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

We have established a Place Based Investment Programme, backed with £325 million capital investment over 5 years, to accelerate ambitions for place, 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre revitalisation and community led regeneration. This programme will include support for repurposing of land and buildings, creating new space for local enterprises, facilities and services and support the resilience and wellbeing of communities across Scotland.

We have also launched a £10 million multi-year Scotland Loves Local Fund to support local people, businesses and community partnerships to bring new ideas and activity to towns and neighbourhoods to support local economic recovery and resilience.

The Town Centre Action Plan and our UK-leading town centre first approach provide a framework for those working to revitalise town and neighbourhood centres so that they can become more diverse, sustainable and thriving places for communities to live, work and enjoy. An independent review which considered the impact and lessons from the Town Centre Action Plan and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was published in February 2021. We are working collaboratively with COSLA and partners to respond to the review.

We support Scotland's Towns Partnership to work with local authorities, communities and businesses to provide information, support and services which contribute to the vibrancy, viability and diversity of our town centres and neighbourhoods, and to support the development of Business Improvement Districts.

To support the small businesses that will be vital to the recovery of our towns and high streets, we will maintain the Small Business Bonus Scheme for the lifetime of the Parliament - ensuring that 100,000 business properties pay no rates and that the majority of ratepayers continue to pay a lower poundage than elsewhere in the UK.

Our City Centre Recovery Task Force is working to identify innovative actions aimed at assisting city centres through their economic recovery. To kick-start the Task Force, we invested £2 million in a City Centres Recovery Fund. This has supported innovative actions with a focus on inclusive and sustainable growth to aid the recovery of our city centres.

The Scottish Government has published the Evaluation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism 2011-21 today. In response I am delighted to announce £650k this financial year, for tests of change on adult neurodevelopmental pathways. Additionally I can announce new funding of £425k to trial the Scottish Government’s new Learning Disability and Autism leadership and engagement work, from the Recovery and Renewal fund. I would also like to announce £400k for the understanding autism project charity funding. This represents a substantive package of support of £1.4m, £1m of which is new funding from the Recovery and Renewal fund.

The evaluation is available to view at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781802013696