Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23310 on 11 December 2023. All answers to 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 Prison Population Statistics 2022-23 were published on 5 December 2023 at 9.30am.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) provides advice to NHS Scotland on a ‘once for Scotland’ basis about the value for patients of newly licensed medicines, including innovative cell and gene therapies such as one-off gene-edited treatments for debilitating inherited conditions.

For example, in 2021, the SMC was the first health technology appraisal body in the UK to accept a gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. This ensures that NHS patients have equal access to innovative medicines that are clinically and cost-effective. The SMC has a transparent and robust process that is fully described on its website.

In the year 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023, there were 3,501 referrals to DBI support in Lanarkshire, including 856 for people living in Lanarkshire and referred via NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service national contact points.

More broadly across Scotland, DBI has now supported over 52,000 people who have been referred for help since the original pilot programme was launched in 2017. Referral numbers across the programme are currently at over 1,800 per month.

DBI Level 2 support is provided by commissioned and trained third sector staff who contact the person within 24-hours of referral. They then provide compassionate, problem solving support, wellness and distress management planning, supported connections and signposting for a period of up to 14 days.

Over the past five years, the Scottish Government has provided NHS Lanarkshire with the following Baseline funding, and Capital resource for NHS Estate Maintenance, which can be used at the discretion of individual NHS Health Boards:

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23384 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.

My officials engage with the UK Government on a range of medicines-related matters, including the availability of medicines, and keep me updated as required.

The cumulative cost of the Fairer Council Tax Consultation is £48,039.52. This relates only to the cost of publishing the Fairer Council Tax consultation, and the cost of an independent third party to analyse the consultation responses.

Our suicide prevention strategy Creating Hope Together, and our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce Action Plan - both of which are joint publications with COSLA - have a strong and consistent focus on training across our workforce and our communities to enable people to better understand and support people affected by suicide.

a) Since the start of the current financial year (2023-24) up to and including 3 December 2023, 10,798 applications were received for the Home Heating Support Fund. Of these:

Approved - 5,255

Ongoing* – 2,741

*Ongoing applications are those that are being progressed, awaiting a decision or additional evidence, or are households who require debt advice before being accepted.

b) Rejected – 2,802

As per the answer to S6W-23335 on 11 December 2023, Advice Direct Scotland works with rejected applicants to ensure they have what they need to reapply. When either a referral partner or individual re-applies, the original application is used and cross-referenced with the new evidence provided.

Rejected applications are provided with a clear, bespoke explanation detailing what is required to re-apply, and both individual households and referral partners have access to follow-up support through email and telephone. Referral partners are also given training on supporting customers, particularly those who are vulnerable.

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 funds five direct delivery partners to carry out peatland restoration projects through the Peatland ACTION partnership - NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Scottish Water.

Operational and delivery aspects of the programme, such as vetting of individual applications seeking funding for their projects, are a matter for each respective delivery partner and I would refer the MSP to those organisations for further information.