Chamber and committees

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who will reply in writing within 20 days

There are currently no plans to develop a UK-wide Strategy on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). However, Scottish Government officials have made contact with Wales and Northern Ireland, and have met with counterparts in England regarding FASD policy We are also linking into international work and evidence in relation to FASD. We will continue to engage, and share learning and approaches.

The Scottish Government has funded Adoption UK (Scotland) to establish an FASD Hub in Scotland with the aim of providing support, training and advice to families, carers and professionals supporting children affected by FASD. This is the first of its kind within the UK. We also support a research, evidence and training base - the FAAST team at Edinburgh University.

As the member will know, rail accessibility is reserved to the UK Government. However, my officials are in regular dialogue with the Department for Transport on matters of rail accessibility.

Nominations seeking Access for All funding for Control Period 7 (2024-2029) were submitted to the Department for Transport in time for the 16 September 2022 deadline. The Department for Transport is anticipated to announce successful nominations in Spring 2023.

The number of registered businesses in Scotland in 2022 was 175,175, which was down 1.1 per cent on 2021, but was 1,180 higher than in 2016. Registered businesses account for less than half the total number of businesses: the overall number of businesses (360,910) increased over the latest year and is now the second highest since the series began in 2000. The number of large firms in Scotland (employing 250 and above employees) has been affected by declines in sectors that have been most impacted by the pandemic and the cost crisis. However, employment in private businesses is estimated to have grown to quarter 3 2022 and is close to the highest in this series (beginning 1999), contributing to current high employment rates. For example, the latest Labour Force Survey estimates for Oct to Dec 2022 show the highest overall employment rate (76.6%) since records began in 1992.

The Scottish Government recognise the challenge for local authorities that have responsibility for ferries and welcomes all extra funding for Scotland. However, it is unacceptable for the UK Government to decide how money is spent in areas of devolved responsibility.

The Scottish Government actively engages with the shipbuilding industry, through individual companies and our enterprise and skills agencies. Transport Scotland has no role in the procurement of local authority ferries.

There are already a wide range of statutory reporting duties and sources of information available which ensures sufficient data on local authorities is published. For example, the Improvement service publishes an annual Overview Report for the Scottish Local Government Benchmarking Framework , the Accounts Commission publishes Best Value Assurance Reports on individual councils, and all councils also must publish Annual Audit Reports. In light of the range of current measures in place there are no plans to introduce a local government transparency code.

Any proposals for artwork on the bridge piers should be commissioned via Glasgow City Council. Whilst Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland are responsible for the structure including the bridge piers, Glasgow City Council (GCC) own the land below the bridge, are planning authority and are responsible for the public realm area and local roads below the bridge. The Scottish Government via its Transport Scotland would consider any such proposals favourably, as was the case in advance of the Commonwealth Games and CoP26.

The South-West Operating Company AMEY currently uses grey masonry paint designed to match the existing pier surface colour, to quickly cover over any graffiti particularly where it is offensive.

The Scottish Government recommends the Eatwell Guide as the main UK consumer facing resource which shows the types and proportions of foods and drinks that are required for a healthy balanced diet and reflects a translation of the population level dietary goals for Scotland.

The Eatwell Guide illustrates that animal-based products, such as meat and dairy, can be included as part of a healthy balanced diet, but in much smaller proportions than that of plant based foods. The sustainability of the Eatwell Guide was assessed by the Carbon trust and they concluded that moving from our current diet towards the Eatwell Guide would be a more sustainable way of eating, with a 32% lower environmental footprint than our current diet.

Within the context of the Eatwell Guide , sector-specific guidance that considers nutrition and sustainable food provision is also in place for (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) nursing homes, as follows:

Schools

All food and drink served in schools must comply with the school food and drink Regulations. The associated Healthy Eating in Schools guidance supports provision of a balanced and nutritious diet which includes plant based foods such as fruit and vegetables alongside a wide range of other food and drinks rich in a variety of key nutrients.

Hospitals

Food provision in NHS Scotland must be compliant with the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Food Fluid and Nutritional care standards as well as the Food in Hospitals: National Catering and Nutrition Specification - both of which have a robust evidence base. Food in Hospitals recognises that meat free options can be valuable and can contribute to overall menu content however the menu structure outlined within Food in Hospitals must recognise the differing needs of those are nutritionally well and those who are nutritionally vulnerable and as such, menus for patients must be sufficiently varied to ensure that the needs of both those groups are met.

Care homes

While there is no specific guidance around plant-based foods for care homes, the Health and Social Care Standards , which all social care services must adhere to, include standards on food and nutrition, emphasising the importance of healthy meals and snacks.

To support care homes in meeting people’s food and fluid needs, the Care Inspectorate has produced a guide for older people and adult care homes - Eating and drinking well in care: good practice guidance for older people .

In addition, My Health, My Care, My Home - healthcare framework for adults living in care homes - provides a series of recommendations aiming to transform the healthcare for people living in care homes, and include a recommendation that “Religious and philosophical beliefs in relation to food and diet should be enquired about and catered for.”

Scottish Government is a key partner in the Save a Life for Scotland partnership which delivers the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy 2021 – 2026. A key aim of this strategy is to increase the percentage of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest incidents which have a defibrillator applied before the ambulance service arrives from 8% to 20%.

This is not only about increasing the number of defibrillators in public places but also about building the evidence base to support defibrillator guardians to make strategic decisions about the placement of their defibrillators, to encourage their registration with Scottish Ambulance Service and to increase public confidence and knowledge around defibrillation. We are working as part of the Save a Life Scotland partnership to deliver on these aims.

Scotland’s Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report 2019-2022 highlights that the number of Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) in communities across Scotland that are registered with “The Circuit” has more than doubled since 2019 and is now at almost 5,000. The full report can be found here: https://savealife.scot/ohca-report-2019-22/

In September, NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Government hosted a webinar on ‘Delivering a Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation in a Post-COVID era’. The webinar formed part of Scottish Government’s work to raise awareness of the Once for Scotland Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation. More than 1,000 people with an interest in rehabilitation took part.