Chamber and committees

Details of all Ministerial engagements are proactively published by the Scottish Government. The information can be accessed at the below link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted on 13 February 2023 and our focus now lies on the delivery of NPF4. We are in the early stages of planning a gathering of authorities’ planning convenors in autumn 2023, to discuss a range of issues, including the delivery of NPF4.

The following tables show how many potholes have been reported and repaired by Transport Scotland’s Operating Company, BEAR Scotland, in Skye in each month of (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.

Funding will be spent on a series of infrastructure upgrades on the route south from Aberdeen to the Central Belt, including signal enhancements and specific capacity alterations to facilitate the operation of more and faster trains on the same route.

The recent increase in mortality should be considered in the context of the trend seen since 2002, which indicates average mortality levels are relatively stable with peaks and troughs in different years. This is demonstrated by comparison of the number of fish surviving to harvest within a production cycle, which provides for a better comparison between years than mortality figures alone, and which is presented in our published production survey Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Government expects producers to drive mortality to lowest possible levels. We continue to work with the sector, regulators, fish vets and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre to better understand causes of mortality, improve access to treatments and address the impacts of climate change.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with the UK Government to carefully consider the recommendations made in the report and determine the appropriate next steps.

Until such time as new guidance is produced, ETSU-R-97 should continue to be followed by applicants and used by decision makers to assess and rate noise from wind energy developments.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include actions in partnership with the food industry to raise awareness of healthier food options.

An example of collaborating with industry to raise awareness of healthy alternatives in food choices is the Healthy Living Programme (HLP). The HLP received £332,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation. Established in 2004, the programme raises awareness of healthier alternatives to convenience retailers and their customers. The HLP also runs Big Breakfast events that bring local schools, businesses and communities together to enjoy a healthier breakfast alternatives. Foods promoted in-store and at these events through the HLP include whole-grain bread and porridge.

A further example of collaboration with industry is the Scottish Government’s engagement with the Out Of Home sector on proposed measures in our 2021 Out of Home Action Plan . The plan sets out a range of commitments such as consulting on mandatory calorie labelling to help advise consumers about healthier options. This consultation was informed through engagement with 15 trade associations including providers and producers of whole-grain foods.

We are also working with food and drink providers to develop a new Eating Out, Eating Well Framework to support people to eat well when eating out of home. Food and drink providers are helping to shape the Framework, including by sharing their experience on how best to prepare, promote and provide healthier alternatives to their customers.

NHS Boards regularly assess continence patients' needs, with the assessments undertaken by dedicated Bladder and Bowel Teams or community nursing staff. This ensures that patients' needs are met, either through treatment or provision of appropriate containment products. Referrals can also be made by patients' GPs where necessary, and also by a range of other healthcare professionals including pharmacists, consultants and care home staff.

Where a patient has been assessed as requiring continence products, these are provided by their local NHS Board's continence service on prescription. As such, any person that is suffering from incontinence should seek a referral to their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be assessed, treated where appropriate, or managed through the prescription of continence products.

Whilst NHS Boards follow the guidance contained in the Association for Continence Advice Scotland paper 'Guidance for the provision of absorbent pads for adult incontinence - Scotland' that the number of absorbent pads issued in each 24 hour period would not normally exceed 4, it is stressed that provision should meet assessed clinical need. This will include determining the amount of urine being passed daily by the patient, and consequently the appropriate absorbency level for the absorbent pads being prescribed.

There is no expectation for an individual to buy continence products where they have been assessed as requiring them, so any patient that feels that their prescription does not meet their needs should raise their concerns with their local continence service in order that their incontinence can be reassessed and their prescription adjusted if appropriate.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include holistic actions in a variety of settings to raise awareness of healthier food options.

The Plan is underpinned by our Scottish Dietary Goals . Taken together, the actions articulate a holistic approach across the food chain and within society. These include proposals for a mix of: restrictions on less healthy food provision (such as those on promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt) and actions to make it easier to access healthier options.

An example of our holistic approach is Parent Club, which links together advice on diet with other issues that parents and carers may want advice on. The Parent Club Family Support Directory raises awareness of different food choices and links resources for healthy eating, including: Best Start Foods, free nursery milk, and information on free school meals and the Young Patients Family Fund. The Parent Club Recipe Database includes healthy, low cost options and alternatives approved by nutritionists.

In addition, Food Standards Scotland has published an online dietary guidance resource, Eat Well, Your Way | Eat well, your way (eatwellyourway.scot) , which delivers evidence-based dietary advice along with practical tips in a user-friendly format.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires Scottish Ministers to publish a national good food nation plan. The Scottish Government expects to publish a draft of the national good food nation plan for consultation in summer 2023.

Increasing consumer uptake of whole-grain food varieties remains one of our key healthy eating messages.

The Scottish Government collaborates with the food industry on a number of funded programmes that support an increase in the use of healthier ingredients, including, where appropriate, whole-grains.

An example is the Reformulation For Health Programme . The Programme received £105,000 funding from the Scottish Government in 2022-23 and is administered by the Food and Drink Federation Scotland. Established in 2018, the Programme makes small and medium-sized businesses aware of the benefits in reformulating products to be healthier. It provides small grant funding, training and sharing of sector specific expertise. While the overall aim is to reduce calories, the Programme is also generating reductions in salt, saturated fat and sugar and increases in fibre. A key component of the latter can include whole-grains.