Chamber and committees

Ministers have committed that by 2029 every high-risk residential building over 18 metres in Scotland will have been resolved - whether made safe, decommissioned or replaced - and every building between 11 and 18 metres will be on a defined pathway to resolution. This is in line with England.

Ministers remain committed to ensuring that the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service at Foxgrove opens as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. Scottish Government officials meet regularly with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Scotland Assure to monitor progress towards opening, including discussion of operational readiness, workforce matters and associated costs.

Recruitment of specialist staff in advance of opening is necessary to ensure appropriate training, governance arrangements and regulatory compliance are in place for what will be a highly specialist national service. The costs referenced relate to establishing and retaining a skilled workforce to support safe delivery of care once the service becomes operational.

Opening will take place once all safety, clinical and regulatory requirements have been fully satisfied.

The escalation of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to level 4 of the framework has no impact on decision making around the National Treatment Centre or the Carrick Glen site.

Carrick Glen Hospital has not yet been disposed of because the necessary service-planning and asset-surplus processes are still ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to bring a site to market before those steps are complete. Also, no request has been made regarding the timing of any sale in relation to the Scottish Parliament election.

We are currently working with all health boards to develop an NHS whole system infrastructure plan for Scotland. This will support continued safe and effective use of existing facilities as well as informing future investment priorities based on assessment of need across the whole of Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information which is a matter for NHS Boards locally.

The Scottish Government’s position on homeopathy is unchanged. While some Complementary and Alternative Medicines, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people, it is for NHS Boards to determine which treatments they offer in line with national and local priorities and national guidance: http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/dl/DL(2016)06.pdf.

Prescribing decisions, including the use of homeopathy, are made by clinicians in consultation with patients, drawing on their competencies, evidence-based advice, and relevant guidance. The Scottish Government expects that any treatment provided is appropriate, person-centred, safe, effective, and subject to ongoing review between clinicians and their patients.

I have not held a meeting with Police Scotland specifically to discuss the impact of the Thistle drug consumption facility. However, Scottish Government officials maintain regular engagement with Police Scotland and local partners to monitor the delivery of the service and any identified community impacts.

I have not held a meeting with residents in Calton specifically to discuss the impact of the Thistle drug consumption facility. However, Scottish Government officials continue to engage regularly with local partners, including Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, to monitor delivery of the service and any identified community impacts.

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise (SE) and as such I have asked Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of SE to write to you with a full response.

The Scottish Government agrees that it important for every young person to be aware of, understand and actively use their access rights and responsibilities.

The Curriculum for Excellence is a broad framework rather than a set of specific topics of study prescribed to all schools which means that it is not possible to prescribe specific topics. However, as indicated in Professor Higgins’ comments to committee, the curriculum framework includes an entitlement to Learning for Sustainability (LfS), which covers outdoor learning, sustainable development education and global citizenship. This provides opportunities for teachers to cover a range of sustainability themes, including the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

NatureScot has developed a SOAC Education Resource Pack for schools, containing educational activities that can be adapted for all age groups. The landing page for the resources includes a professional learning session with Education Scotland.

Further information on Learning for Sustainability is available at:

https://education.gov.scot/resource-themes/learning-for-sustainability/

Further information on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code Activity Education Resource Pack is available at:

https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/act-and-access-code/education-resources

We consulted on proposals for a new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS), co-developed with the social housing sector, alongside proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. Since then we have been progressing the foundational work needed to underpin the future standard. This includes reforming Energy Performance Certificates, which will provide a more accurate basis for assessing the energy performance of buildings, which will be important to equip building owners and tenants.

We will confirm next steps following further engagement with partners in the social housing sector, taking into account wider developments, including standards that are being developed for the private rented sector. Our overarching aim is to ensure a fair and proportionate approach across all tenures, supporting decarbonisation whilst tackling fuel poverty.

The Scottish Government has been engaging with FRP Advisory, as the appointed administrators of Orbex, to understand both the position of the company, its workforce and its infrastructure and assets to explore any measures that could support continuity of operations.

The Scottish Government’s enterprise and skills agencies are also monitoring developments closely to support any viable pathways that safeguard strategic capability and skilled employment.

Finally, Scottish Ministers have sought clarity from the UK Government around its intentions for generating and maintaining sovereign launch capability for the UK, given its relevance to our national security.