Chamber and committees

The impact assessments to inform proposals to introduce a charge on single-use disposable beverage cups are currently being developed, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, and will be published alongside the public consultation in due course.

There have been zero fatalities as a result of road accidents on the A90 between Stonehaven, where Slug Road crosses the A90, and by Aberdeen, where Skene road (A944) intersects with the A90 since 1 April 2021.

The Scottish Government has discussed food waste with a range of representative and third sector organisations. For example, an eNGO roundtable event took place with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Scottish Environment Link members, with representatives from: WWF; Friends of the Earth Scotland; Circular Communities Scotland; and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. Another example is ongoing support and engagement with WRAP UK - a climate action NGO – which has expertise in food waste reduction. We have also engaged with FareShare on food redistribution. This engagement is complemented by programme partners at Zero Waste Scotland who work with community food groups and wider third sector organisations on food waste reduction.

A number of alternative methods of control are available to aid bracken management depending on the intended outcome of a control strategy and the challenges that could be encountered.

The Scottish Government will continue to support stakeholders by working with NatureScot to progress priorities that were identified at the stakeholder roundtable in August. These include delivery of best practice guidance, to be in place for June 2024, and development of a bracken framework which will help land managers consider where bracken control is needed, how it could be undertaken and the intensity of any control.

The Scottish Government takes the use of chemicals very seriously. Pesticide products are only authorised where data demonstrates that the proposed use will not have unacceptable effects on human health or the environment.

The Brush Up campaign has been developed to raise awareness of changes to NHS dentistry from 1 November, and to assure patients that they will still be able to access a full range of treatment on the NHS.

In particular the campaign directs patients to updated NHS Inform webpages which set out key information in relation to NHS dental treatment in Scotland. This includes a plain English explanation of the changes to examination frequency, noting these are now determined with respect to individual risk factors; entitlements to exemptions; and information on accessing a dentist.

Decisions about the provision and commissioning of individual community justice services, including any re-tendering exercises, are a matter for local authorities based on local needs. The Scottish Government has continued to invest around £134 million in community justice services this year, including providing around £123 million to local authorities, and has not asked local authorities to reduce any specific funding within that.

We understand that Glasgow City Council are working closely with Turning Point Scotland to support those currently using the service. The Council has also provided reassurances that other relevant services and approaches are available to support people with similar needs following the anticipated closure of the service.

These include residential placements in addiction services, the trauma-informed Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow service and the use of women-only drug courts and problem-solving courts, and the Lilias Centre Community Custody Unit.

There have been 49 personal injury accidents on the A90 between Dundee (Emmock Roundabout) and Stonehaven, where Slug Road crosses the A90 since 1 April 2021.

Information on non-injury accidents is not held by the Scottish Ministers

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that anyone living with pain is able to access the best possible care and support. Through our commitment to implementing our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework we are seeking to amplify the voices of people who may face inequality on the basis of their sex. We will work collaboratively with other partners to ensure there are appropriate pathways for women with pain and painful conditions.  

Information on the incidence or occurrence of rare conditions such as cystic fibrosis is not held centrally by the Scottish Government, however, it is estimated that approximately 900 people in Scotland have cystic fibrosis.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23215 on 11 December 2023. 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.

In line with our Fairer Funding commitment to embed a multi-year grant approach on all third sector grants by 2026, the First Minister has committed to increasing the number of two-year grants in the forthcoming budget, and longer where possible.

It must be recognised that whilst we would wish to go further we face significant economic uncertainty and it would be wrong to make commitments we cannot sustain.