Chamber and committees

We have written to the Comhairle setting out our view on the issues raised by Tighean Innse Gall and continued delivery of home insulation schemes in the Western Isles. The Scottish Government has proposed practical solutions and remains open to receiving proposals from the council that aim to further strengthen the local supply chain. This year we will allocate £64 million in funding to local councils to support local delivery of Area Based Schemes.

Help and support for fuel poor households continues to be available through our national Warmer Homes Scotland service. Warmer Homes Scotland has installed insulation measures in 17 homes in the Western Isles since last September. Likewise there is a range of cashback and loans available to householders, as well as advice and information, through our Home Energy Scotland helpline.

Our Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme aims to provide greater public awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer to improve earlier diagnosis rates. A symptom-checker tool is included on the getcheckedearly.org website, to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer, including sarcoma cancers, and research is currently being undertaken to better understand the possible barriers and levers to early diagnosis that any new DCE campaigns should focus on.

A new Early Diagnosis Vision is planned as part of the new Scottish Government Cancer Strategy (due to launch in April 2023), and will look at awareness raising.

I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-07665 on 21 April 2022 and S6W-07668 on 26 April 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

The Scottish Government are aware of ongoing criticisms of the BS 8414 test. Opinion on the test within the sector remains divided. The test standard has not been withdrawn by the British Standards Institution and its purpose is to provide data to enable evaluation of the fire performance of components when combined to form a complete cladding system.

Following consultation last year, the Building Scotland (Amendment) Regulations 2022 were laid in the Scottish Parliament on 22 April. From 1 June 2022, these regulations introduce a ban on combustible cladding systems on residential and other high risk buildings over 11m. For such buildings, BS 8414 can no longer be used as an alternative means of compliance with building regulations.

The Fire Protection Association is represented on the Building Standards (Fire Safety) Review Panel 2020-22. BS 8414 was one of many topics covered at Review panel meetings which have taken place in December 2020, March and May 2021 and January 2022.

The Scottish Sarcoma Network is tasked with looking at this issue more closely for the whole of Scotland, particularly regarding any educational shortfall that may exist. Additionally, every year the network analyses and reports the Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) for Sarcoma in Scotland, to identify areas for improvement and ensure quality of care and treatment for patients.

The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) enables all radiologists to work together, and scans indicating a suspicion of sarcoma can be discussed with a sarcoma specialist radiologist.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07491 on 25 April 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

Scottish Ministers are considering how the ScotWind revenues should be invested to maximise the benefits for the people of Scotland. As part of these considerations, Scottish Ministers will evaluate whether these revenues should fall within the scope of the existing 9% agreement with Crown Estate Scotland.

Building regulations do not apply retrospectively to existing buildings. The regulations apply to new buildings, conversions and to existing buildings where building work is proposed. From 1 June 2022, if remediation is required following a Single Building Assessment, a building warrant will be required for replacement cladding systems (other than minor repairs) and require to meet the amended regulations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07666 on 21 April 2022 and S6W-07667 and S6W-07669 answered on 26 April 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