Chamber and committees

Vaccine safety is of the utmost importance and we continue to follow the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance. All vaccines available in Scotland have been approved by the MHRA as safe and effective.

The MHRA operates the Yellow Card scheme which collects and monitors information on suspected concerns or incidents involving vaccines and publishes a summary of this online.

Scotland already has the UK’s second highest number of public charge points outside of London, and the most rapid charge points anywhere in the UK. The figure of 30,000 charge points has been inferred from a Climate Change Committee report published in December 2020. It is difficult to determine with certainty how many public charge points will be required as this will be influenced by factors such as developments in battery range or charging speeds. Scotland's network of charge points must also reflect Scotland's unique geography and policies, which include our focus on public transport, active travel and reducing our dependence on cars.

The vision for public charge points in Scotland, published on 26 January 2022, also recognises the importance of private sector investment. Our charging Infrastructure Fund will bring together £60m of public and private investment so that no part of Scotland is left behind as we move to an electric future.

Scotland is one of the few countries to publish annual reports setting out consumption-based emissions, including those associated with imported textiles, in the “Scotland’s Carbon Footprint” official statistics release [available at: www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-carbon-footprint-1998-2018/ ]. We recognise the inherently global nature of climate change and the necessity of co-ordinated international action and our transition to a circular economy.

Embodied emissions in imported textiles peaked in 2007 at an estimated 2.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO 2 e). In the latest year (2018) these emissions were estimated to have fallen to a level of 1.0 MtCO 2 e. Textile production in the Middle-East and China were the largest contributors.

In June 2022 we launched our £2m Circular Textiles Fund, to support businesses working in this sector to address issues associated with textile waste and throwaway culture.

The Scottish Government is providing over £30 million this financial year to accelerate the shift to zero emission transport. This includes support for zero emission community transport and car clubs in addition to funding interest free loans for electric vehicles. Electric vehicle chargepoint grants are also available to homeowners and businesses in rural and island areas, where installation costs are often higher. This approach is designed to target those who need the most financial help to make the switch to zero emission transport.

Later this year, we will be introducing legislation to ensure all new buildings with parking, whether that be a new home or local community centre, are EV enabled, future-proofing Scotland's buildings as we transition to a net zero transport system.

As of the end of the day on 12 September 2022, there had been a total of 21,723,100 journeys made under the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme.

Scottish Government are engaging with NHS 24 and stakeholders to review the MSK pathway, using data and learning from quality improvement initiatives to inform future developments that will enhance the patient journey. No date has been set for the implementation of a new MSK pathway.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10488 on‎ 8 September 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

No it has not. The Scottish Government continues to explore all options to ensure that there is sufficient and safe accommodation for any displaced people from Ukraine arriving in Scotland. This includes contingency plans for emergency accommodation as well as increasing temporary accommodation, by for example getting the second ship, which has now docked in Glasgow, prepared to safely host displaced people from Ukraine.

The Scottish Government is clear that we do not want to see people spending more time in temporary accommodation than is absolutely necessary, including on our two passenger ships.

Our priority is to ensure that people who have already arrived, and will arrive from Ukraine, are able to stay in appropriate temporary accommodation and get the right support, then move into safe, sustainable longer term accommodation.

The new Scottish Government Office in Warsaw will be opened within the lifetime of this Parliament.

The office will be staffed by Civil Servants and Country Based Staff. Civil Servants are appointed to represent Scotland in our international offices by a recruitment panel that includes the posts’ line manager. Appointees can be recruited from existing roles within the Scottish Government or from wider UK Government departments. The Country Based Staff are recruited using the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office recruitment processes in each country.

Costs and staffing levels for the office will be finalised under future Scottish Government Budgets, in line with our priorities and within our budgetary limits.