Chamber and committees

In September 2023, organisations in receipt of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Grant funding were informed that this would be extended until the end of September 2024.

A commitment to further grant funding was made in the Mental Health & Wellbeing Delivery Plan and an update will be issued in coming months.

Prior to the introduction of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (“the 2019 Act”) all relevant impact assessments were conducted, and no significant issues were identified as part of this process. All the bus powers in the 2019 Act, including franchising, are designed to be flexible to ensure local transport authorities can improve bus services according to their local needs. In developing their franchising proposals, local authorities will need to take account of the individual circumstances of their area, including any potential impact of technological developments, and how the proposals will contribute to the implementation of their relevant general policies. We continue to engage with local transport authorities as we develop the further regulations and guidance required to give the franchising powers full effect.

Under the established major service change process in the NHS (outlined in the national Planning with People guidance), this proposal, which was agreed by the Board of NHS Ayrshire & Arran at its meeting on 9 October 2023, is subject to Ministerial approval.

Having carefully considered all the available information, I have today written to the Chair of NHS Ayrshire & Arran to confirm that I am approving the Board’s proposal to retain the interim changes to local Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) services. The Board has made a compelling case for retaining the change that has been made, which is supported by the clear majority of local stakeholders. The proposal is fully consistent with both the aims and ambitions of our new cancer strategy and the tiered, clinically risk-assessed approach under the West of Scotland Strategic Review of SACT services. As such, I am content that the Board has adopted an appropriate, clinically-based risk approach to maximise local access to services, as far as possible.

The Ask for ANI scheme is an initiative led by the Home Office, and as such they oversee the UK wide rollout alongside key partners. This includes in Scotland, where Ask for ANI is currently operational in 430 pharmacies.

A campaign ‘UK Says No More’ encourages pharmacies to sign up to the scheme, however geographical variations will exist as it’s a voluntary scheme and for each pharmacy to decide upon participation. The member may wish to note that Ask for ANI is available in Highland locations such as Fort Willian and Ullapool, but also on Scottish Islands locations, including Lerwick, Shetland.

LED parapet lighting installations are currently in place and attached to the Carnoustie Street, West Street and Eglinton Street flyovers on the M74 motorway in Glasgow.

Transport Scotland’s Operating Company for the Glasgow area, Amey Ltd, has identified some faults in these assets as part of their ongoing inspection regime. Amey is currently developing a programme for these repairs and I have asked officials at Transport Scotland to provide with a further update by the end of January.

a) Enable Works Stepping Up programme, to date, has been delivered in 75 schools across Scotland, achieving a 98% positive destination rate for young people with learning disabilities. In financial year 2022-23, 2,974 young people were supported through the Stepping Up programme.

b) Stepping Up is an innovative school transitions programme that supports young people who have a learning disability, autism or additional support needs. The programme is delivered in partnership with Education Providers, stakeholders and other third sector organisations. It works collaboratively with Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) to provide joined-up careers experience, advice and guidance, and aims to support young people into positive destinations.

Impact assessments for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Scotland have been updated to reflect the most recent set of regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament. The impact assessments will be updated again once Defra have confirmed the final design of their scheme.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing legislation on ending conversion practices in Scotland. In developing our proposals for legislative change we have carefully considered a wide range of evidence and expert advice. This includes the report of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, and the report and recommendations of the independent Expert Advisory Group established by the Scottish Government.

The consultation setting out our proposals for legislative change will be published on 9 January 2024. While the consultation document is ready for publication this year prior to recess, this timescale responds to an ask from a range of stakeholders to avoid publishing the consultation during a holiday period where those with an interest in the proposals work at a lower capacity. A January publication also maximises the opportunity for responses during the twelve-week consultation period. Critically, it also ensures that there is sufficient support available for victims and survivors of conversion practices who may be impacted by the public discussion. To facilitate this we are providing funding to support the delivery of a helpline service for survivors in Scotland.

Our public consultation will contain clear and detailed information on our proposals for legislative change in order to obtain views from stakeholders and the broader public.

A national marketing campaign raising awareness and encouraging uptake for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme was undertaken in autumn 2022. PR and marketing activity was also undertaken during COP26 to promote the scheme ahead of its launch.

The following table provides the spend as at 13 December 2023 (inclusive of VAT where applicable) for both campaigns.

Messaging to promote the scheme was included in our Choose the Bus campaign, co-funded by the bus industry, however it is not possible to provide specific costs as under 22s was not the campaign’s primary focus.

The following table presents the total number of fatal and serious accidents for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. However, the information on the total number of fatal and serious accidents for 2023 are only available up to the date stated in the following table.

Date Extracted – 06-12-2023

Source: Transport Scotland Accident Manager Database

Notes: Statistics for Police Scotland

Date Period: 01-04-2021 – 01-11-2023 (latest date available for serious)

Please note that the information provided is based on the current figures available at the time of retrieving the data from Transport Scotland’s accident manager system. The following are potential reasons for an accident not appearing on our system:

• Transport Scotland only holds accident information which is provided to us by Police Scotland.
• Transport Scotland does not hold information relating to damage only accidents (i.e. not involving an injury).
• The accident information Transport Scotland holds is subject to change. E.g. we receive late returns from Police Scotland, who are responsible for recording details of injury accidents.
• Annual Scottish accident figures are published by Transport Scotland on a yearly basis and can be found by entering Reported Road Casualties Scotland into your search engine.
• From summer 2019, Police Scotland introduced a new system for recording traffic collisions. Due to improved recording and categorisation processes, it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of casualties and accidents on Scottish roads that are classified as serious. This increase would not reflect an actual change in the severity of accidents occurring on Scottish roads, but would instead reflect more accurate recording.
• Statisticians within the Department for Transport have devised a method for adjusting the road casualty figures to ensure that they can be compared over time on a consistent basis. Transport Scotland’s Key Reported Road Casualties and Reported Road Casualties statistics publications will present both adjusted and unadjusted figures.