Chamber and committees

I have today published a new, strengthened Scottish Ministerial Code which sets the very highest standards of propriety and integrity.

The changes I have introduced mark the most fundamental developments to the Code since the introduction of Independent Advisers in 2008.

The Code has been restructured into three distinct sections: Ministers' Standards of Conduct; Ministers' Interests; and Ministers and the Procedures of Government. This brings ethical standards and public service values to the forefront, while ensuring that they are supported by the governing rules and procedures that underpin guidance to Ministers.

My 2024 edition of the Code provides an enhanced role for my Independent Advisers on the Code, who can now:

• Launch investigations into alleged breaches without a referral from me;
• Provide me with advice on the appropriate sanctions for a confirmed breach of the Code;
• Recommend to me improvements to strengthen the Code at any time; and
• Play a role in reviewing the processes in place to support Ministers to avoid any conflicts of interest between their private interests and their public duties.

I announced the appointment of my three new Independent Advisers on the Ministerial Code on 6 December and I have published their Terms of Reference alongside my new Code for the first time. These Terms of Reference set out the detail of my Advisers strengthened role and the process of independent scrutiny and advice they can provide to me.

My new Code has been updated throughout to support the highest standards of transparency, integrity, accountability and honesty. For example, the Seven Principles of Public Life have been brought into the body of the Code and updates have been made to ensure that the Code reflects existing rules, guidance and procedure on the use of corporate communication channels and on Ministerial travel and engagements.

The Infected Blood Inquiry’s report of 20 May 2024 set out a range of important recommendations that seek to protect patient safety and ensure a similar tragedy can never happen again. As the First Minister made clear in his statement to the Scottish Parliament on 21 May, the Scottish Government is committed to learning lessons from what went wrong and the terrible impact it has had on so many infected blood victims in Scotland and their families. The Scottish Government has established an Oversight and Assurance Group involving patient representatives and from the NHS in Scotland, to ensure progress in taking forward the Inquiry’s recommendations.

A UK Government report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-infected-blood-inquiry/government-response-to-the-infected-blood-inquiry-html) provides an update on progress so far in implementing the recommendations. This includes updates on the approach being taken in Scotland, along with information on progress being made on recommendations being taken forward at UK level, such as on the provision of compensation to infected blood victims. In line with the Inquiry’s recommendation 12, the Scottish Government expects to provide a further detailed response to each of the Inquiry’s recommendations next year, within one year of the publication of the Inquiry’s final report.

In Scotland, a number of steps are already being taken and further work is being done in the coming months to ensure further progress. In particular:

• The Scottish Government and the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme have ensured that additional interim compensation has been paid to infected hepatitis C and HIV victims in Scotland and that estates of many of those who sadly died are now able to claim interim payments of £100,000;
• The Chief Medical Officer has asked all NHS Boards and GP practices to offer hepatitis C testing to anyone who has had a blood transfusion prior to 1996 if they have not already been tested. This is to ensure any individuals who may have been infected but not yet diagnosed can be offered treatment and support as quickly as possible;
• The Scottish Government is working with campaigners and relevant local authorities to identify a suitable location for a memorial to infected blood victims.

The appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the Ferguson Marine Board. The Board are in the process of recruiting a permanent CEO, and the interim Chief Executive has agreed to continue in his role until Easter while the process continues.

Ice accretion is a world-wide problem affecting cable-stayed bridges in colder climates, and there is currently no effective solution for preventing it completely. While closures of the Queensferry Crossing due to ice accretion cannot be prevented entirely, we have taken forward research, which led to enhanced management procedures being developed. Now, when there is a risk of falling ice, a 6-point plan is implemented by our Operating Company BEAR Scotland. The plan includes enhanced patrols; heightened focus on prevailing weather conditions; increased data & intelligence gathering; pre-laying of traffic management and enhanced stakeholder communications.

Investment has been made to improve our capability to predict ice accretion. For example, new ice and climate sensors were installed on the bridge in August 2020. These, together with improved bespoke weather forecasts, have helped deliver early warning of conditions conducive to ice accretion. In addition, infrastructure improvements have recently been completed, which will allow traffic to be diverted onto the Forth Road Bridge more quickly.

Transport Scotland has worked in partnership with its Operating Company BEAR Scotland and industry experts to test potential solutions and mitigation measures for ice accretion on the Queensferry Crossing, including cable cleaning.

This work, supported by laboratory testing, showed that cleaning of the cables stays helps to reduce ice accretion. Whilst a clean cable may reduce ice accretion, this measure cannot prevent it entirely. This was confirmed by detailed inspection during the November 2024 ice accretion event, which found that ice had accreted to stays which had no visual detritus. Notwithstanding this, we believe that cleaning the cables is a worthwhile mitigation measure that should be completed periodically.

The MV Glen Sannox is expected to commence service in mid-January 2025.

This information is not held centrally. NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships are the experts on their communities and are responsible for providing services that meet local needs. This may include providing services in-house or, where appropriate, through robust referral pathways to non-specialist services.

Following publication of the recent HIV Outcomes Beyond the Virus report, officials will work with the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Implementation Group and the Scottish Health Protection Network’s HIV Clinical Leads Group to consider its recommendations and ensure that psychological support for adults living with HIV meets the high standards we would expect.

The Scottish Government is also providing NHS Education for Scotland with around £30 million in 2024-25 to deliver multidisciplinary education, training and workforce expansion for staff supporting adult and children’s mental health and psychological wellbeing.

The review of the Preparing Scotland guidance has been completed by officials within Civil Contingencies Division in early 2024 as initially planned. Due to a number of competing demands on the time of responder agencies, and a range of other consultations and requests for participation in working groups etc, the draft document has not yet been circulated for consultation and approval. This decision has also been influenced by the fact that the existing guidance is still current, valid and fit for purpose and therefore there is no immediate disadvantage or danger in postponing the circulation in favour of other work. It is expected to consult on the refreshed guidance by summer 2025.

The Scottish Government has made £2,877,287.97 of funding available to local authorities to enable them to cancel school meal debts within their respective local areas. This sum represents the entire amounts bid for by each local authority.

29 local authorities made bids to the Scottish Government’s School Meal Debt Fund and we issued grant offer letters to them on 3 December 2024.

The amounts awarded to each local authority is set out within the following table:

This is an operational matter for South of Scotland Enterprise. I have passed your query to Jane Morrison-Ross, South of Scotland Enterprise Chief Executive and asked her to respond to you directly.