Chamber and committees

Scottish Government notes this report with interest and is fully aware that the risk of liver disease is increased by the impact of harmful alcohol use and obesity.

This is why we are determined to do all we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland. We take a whole population approach to tackling such harm, in line with the World Health Organisation’s focus on affordability, availability and attractiveness of alcohol.

Our Alcohol Framework 2018 contains 20 actions to tackle alcohol-related harm. One of the key actions was the implementation of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in May 2018. Since then, we have seen a reduction of 3% in total alcohol sales, with a focus on the cheap high-strength alcohol which is often drunk by people drinking at harmful levels. Recent research by Public Health Scotland has found that MUP has been found to save more than 150 lives a year and 411 fewer hospital admissions. It’s also encouraging to see that this research has highlighted that the policy is having an effect in Scotland’s most deprived areas – which experience higher death rates and levels of harms from problem alcohol.

We also want everyone in Scotland to eat well and have a healthy weight to help reduce the impact of a range of diet-related ill health conditions, including liver disease. We continue to implement the wide-ranging actions set out in our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan to address this challenge. This includes our commitment to restrict less healthy food promotions and improve the availability of healthier options when eating out, as outlined in our Out Of Home Action Plan.

Scottish Government through its national Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD) has formed a Specialty Delivery Group for Liver Disease with the first meeting on 6th November 2024. Early Detection is one of the pathways being prioritised.

The Early Detection Pathway has already been passed through the first Gateway in the CfSD delivery pathway. The challenges are around how individual boards can implement this before the National Laboratory Information Management System.

There has been progress in developing the Early Detection pathways in individual health boards using the technology as currently available while others are using the Referral Advice to Primary Care with increased use of the FIB-4 and Fibroscan with advice for Lifestyle changes and repeat investigation as required.

Golf is important to Scotland’s economy, culture and reputation. We have more than 550 golf courses, host world-renowned events and enjoy the benefits from a thriving golf tourism sector.

Golf events and golf tourism bring significant economic benefits to Scotland.

The economic value of golf tourism for the Scottish economy is approximately £300 million per annum, around 5000 jobs and approximately £150 million in GVA.

Scotland’s portfolio of golf events, including The R&A’s major championships and our annual national Opens, help maintain our worldwide reputation as the ‘Home of Golf’.

In 2024, Scotland successfully delivered an exceptional summer of golf, hosting five high-profile tournaments across the men’s and women’s games, headlined by the 152nd Open at Royal Troon. All five events were supported by Scottish Government funding.

Independent research from Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre found that last year’s Open at Royal Troon generated an estimated £87.3 million in total economic impact – new money entering the economy – for Scotland.

The figures for Royal Troon bring the total economic benefit generated by the ten stagings of The Open in Scotland since 2005 to £1.36 billion.

The 2024 Genesis Scottish Open reported £19.2 million in economic impact for Scotland.

In addition to direct economic benefits, Scotland’s golf events also bring wider benefits, including supporting charitable causes, engaging communities and young people, increasing participation in sport and general wellbeing, and advocating for policy priorities such as environmental issues.

The Scottish Government recognises the concerns of students, parents of students and staff affected by the proposed cuts to Animal Care provision and appreciates that this is a very worrying time for everyone at the Scotland's Rural College's (SRUC)Elmwood Campus.

The Scottish Government is investing a record £1.64 billion in policing in 2025-26, an increase of almost £90 million of additional funding from the 2024-25 budget.

Our investment in policing has enabled Police Scotland to undertake the highest level of recruitment since its inception, with around 1,200 new officers joining since the start of 2024. In February, Police Scotland reported their officer establishment was 16,614.

To support the Chief Constable’s reform and modernisation programme, an additional £10m has also been provided to Police Scotland, to enable the delivery of her three-year business plan and bring frontline policing to its strongest possible position.

I am pleased that Police Scotland has invested £17 million to enhance welfare provision. This included a new 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, direct access to occupational health services and a greater focus on mental health. This highlights the priority that Police Scotland places on supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce, supported by a Health and Wellbeing Action Plan to underpin delivery.

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 establishes a framework for the assessment and mapping of flood risks and the planning in relation to the management of such risks. Under section 9 of the Act SEPA must prepare a flood risk assessment for each flood risk management district providing an assessment of any flood risk for the district. This is commonly referred to as the National Flood Risk Assessment and was last published by SEPA in 2018.

In addition, section 13 of the Act requires SEPA to prepare and submit to Scottish Ministers a document identifying for each flood risk management district any area in the district for which it considers that significant flood risk either exists or is likely to occur. These are more commonly referred to as Potentially Vulnerable Areas.

Under section 14 of the Act SEPA is required to update the document provided to Scottish Ministers on a six yearly basis. Scottish Ministers approved the latest update of the document in December 2024 and it can found on SEPA’s website.

Under section 2 of the Act the Scottish Ministers may give directions or guidance to SEPA in relation to the exercise of its flood risk related functions.

SEPA reviews, updates and publishes Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVA) information every 6 years. The most recent update was published in December 2024 following public consultation. Further information on that consultation and how the PVAs are defined can be found on SEPA's website.

I have undertaken an extensive programme of visits to Scotland’s prisons where I have met with Governors and/or Deputy Governors and other members of prison staff. Details of these visits are shown in the following table.

As per the response provided to question S6W-34540 on 4 March 2025, Compensation provisions do exist where land, or rights over land, are acquired by compulsion for the development of energy infrastructure under the Electricity Act 1989. However, there is no statutory provision or process set out in the Act to financially compensate those who consider their property value may be affected.

The Scottish Government want all children and young people to get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential, no matter their circumstances. As such we highly value the work of Forces Children Scotland in advocating for children and young people from service families across the country.

The Scottish Government will continue to meet regularly with Forces Children Scotland to discuss our shared interests in supporting service children. The Minister for Children and Young People met with Forces Children Scotland on 18 September 2024. Forces Children Scotland are a member of the Scottish Armed Forces Education Support Group, which is chaired by a Scottish Government Official and meets quarterly. We are currently funding Forces Children Scotland through the Scottish Veterans Fund to support their Future Transitions project. In addition, the Minister for Veterans is meeting with the Armed Forces Families Federations on 6 May.

Unfortunately the Minister for Veterans was unable to attend the Forces Children's Rights Charter Roundtable on 25 April due to a pre-existing diary commitment.

Provision of medical first aid at a major sporting event is the event organisers’ responsibility which, in this instance, is the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company.

The Scottish Government continues to work closely with event organisers to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Boards and Public Health Scotland are appropriately engaged in planning groups for major sporting events.

Public sector health colleagues work meticulously with the event organisers and any procured private first aid and ambulance services to ensure adequate first aid and health care is provided to event participants, workforce and spectators, in line with guidance and requirements as set out in the Green and Purple Guides.

The Green Guide, or ‘Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds’, provides guidance on safety at sports grounds for stadium operators and event organisers. The Purple Guide is aimed at event organisers who are responsible for managing health and safety and at events in more general terms.