Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13979 on 30 January 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 .

The development and maintaining of digital skills across the workforce is the responsibility of individual employers and academic institutions. We do not hold information centrally on the amount spent by health and social care organisations on development of digital skills. At a national level, we are supporting the provision of materials, resources and courses to support digital skills via the Digital Skills and Leadership Programme. This programme is led by NHS Education for Scotland, and from October 2021 to December 2022 the Scottish Government spent £790,637 on this national programme.

The Building Digital Skills and Leadership Programme enables the delivery of Priority 4 of the refreshed Digital Health and Care strategy where ‘Digital skills are seen as core skills for the workforce across the health and care sector’, and associated commitments in the Health and Social Care: national workforce strategy. The associated programme priorities are found within the Care in a Digital Age Delivery Plan 2022-2023.

Scottish Government is doing a range of things to support partners including work on telecare, enhanced use of Near Me and remote monitoring. Delivery is ongoing, as set out in the annual delivery plan for Digital Health & Care (see Care in the Digital Age: delivery plan 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) ). An update will be published later this year with delivery priorities for 2023-24 and will include an overview of progress against existing commitments.

The Action Plan for Digital Approaches in Care Homes also responds to the current and emerging needs of care home providers and their residents and to realise the benefits of digital technologies. The Plan supports delivery of the Digital Health & Care Strategy and is aligned and informed by a wide range of national strategies, plans and programmes.

The Scottish Government holds this information by local authority area and not by constituency area. A table showing the number of social and affordable completions by local authority area can be accessed using the following link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/affordable-housing-supply-programme-completions-updates/

The homes provided through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme comprise homes for social rent, for mid-market rent and for low cost home ownership. These homes take various forms including; new build homes, rehabilitation projects, conversions and off-the-shelf purchases of both new and second hand homes.

The Scottish Government has published online guidance which explains to local authorities’ their responsibilities to displaced people from Ukraine under the Homes for Ukraine (and Scottish Super Sponsor) scheme. This guidance can be found online here: Person checks - Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10150 on 29 August 2022 . 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 .

There was minimal impact, and no disruption to any of VisitScotland's services as a result of the Public and Commercial Services Union industrial action, on 1 February 2023.

The Scottish Government discussed with Creative Scotland about the effect of the Public and Commercial Services Union industrial action on 1 February 2023. There was no significant impact on its business.

Work on the subsequent two year report was suspended due to the Covid19 pandemic and the need to prioritise assessing and arranging emergency funding for the culture sector.

The National Performing Companies all publish information on their websites about their community and education programmes, financial figures and key artistic achievements.

DHI offer a demonstration environment where new innovations and ideas for health and care can be tested. All health boards have their own test environments and processes. NES and NSS both have national test infrastructure. As part of all major programmes, testing is a critical component which is included in the overall funding for systems and technology.