Some positive progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Adult Neurodevelopmental Pathways report, which aims to provide local single pathways for adult autism and ADHD, including diagnosis and support.

4 Health Boards are undertaking strategic planning to aid implementation. Separately, 2 Boards with established adult autism pathways are working to incorporate ADHD diagnosis and support into those pathways.

However, the Scottish Government recognises that we have more to do to ensure that progress on implementation is maintained.

We are aware that there are differing approaches between NHS Boards in establishing local single pathways for adult autism and ADHD, including approaches that are less neuro-affirming with higher diagnostic thresholds.

We will continue to work with NAIT to encourage these Boards to take approaches aligned to the adult neurodevelopmental pathways report and look to fully implement the recommendations of the report.

The Scottish Government remains focused on increasing the number of places at medical schools to meet the future demands of NHS Scotland while also ensuring there are sufficient educational and training places of appropriate quality in NHS Scotland for our undergraduates and trainee doctors. In line with this between Academic year (AY) 2015-16 and AY 2024-25 the Scottish Government has increased the annual intake of medical places in Scottish universities from 848 to 1,417, representing an increase of 67%. These increases include funding Scotland’s first Graduate Entry Medical programme (ScotGEM), introducing the innovative HCP MED course and GP track courses. The Scottish Government also remain committed to promoting Widening Access (WA) to medicine raising the total number of available places from 60 places in available in AY 2020-2021 to 115 in AY 2024-25.

Last year we published our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture, which sets out the Scottish Government's long term aspirations for the sector.

The Vision makes clear that communities that host aquaculture should be engaged in the sector’s development, share in its success and be supported through a range of lasting benefits.

Building on recent Crown Estate Scotland aquaculture lease increases, we are working to enhance community engagement through the consenting system, and we have committed to delivering good practice principles for community benefits from aquaculture developments in future. I look forward to discussing and developing the scope and timing of that work with the Scottish Aquaculture Council and other stakeholders.

The Scottish Government has not discussed the possible introduction of a non-domestic rates public health supplement with the Competition and Market Authority.

On 4 December, I provided an update to the Constitution, External Affairs & Culture Committee on progress in relation to the Review of Creative Scotland as part of my response to their recommendations regarding the pre-budget scrutiny. I will send the Member a link to the report once it is published on the CEEAC Committee webpages.

As part of the budget announcement on 4 December, the Scottish Government announced that engagement with the culture sector will begin early next year with a short survey about the scope of the review. The Scottish Government will aim to announce the independent Chair of the Creative Scotland review shortly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31576 on 4 December 2024. 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 Scottish Government budget for 2025-2026 includes £0.25m to support the delivery of the Programme for Government 2024-25 commitment to review the way in which the culture sector is supported and funded, which includes the review of Creative Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31366 on 5 December 2024. 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.