Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07905 on 27 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07711 on 19 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.

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.

We recognise the need for urgent action to address our twin nature and climate crises. That is why we are not waiting until the introduction of the Natural Environment Bill to take action. We have already committed to invest £65 in our Nature Restoration Fund over the course of this Parliament and £250 restoring our peatland over this decade. We will soon be consulting on our new Biodiversity Strategy where we will set out our ambitious vision for a nature rich Scotland. We remain committed to introducing a Natural Environment Bill in year 3 which will include nature targets to help tackle the biodiversity and climate crises.

The Scottish Government takes the welfare of all farmed animals very seriously and has recently introduced measures to monitor fish welfare at slaughter. The UK Animal Welfare Committee is currently considering the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter and we will explore the need for any changes to current practice or legislation once the committee publishes its findings.

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.

The Scottish Government regularly reviews its plans for public awareness campaigns. We do not intend to run a public awareness campaign for deep vein thrombosis at this time.

We recognise that the high-level ambitions we have to tackle the twin nature and climate crises need to be supported with adequate funding. This is why we have already committed to invest an additional £500 million in the natural economy over the course of this Parliament. This includes £250 million on peatland restoration over the current decade, £65 Million on the new Nature Restoration Fund over the course of this Parliament, and £100 million to increase forestry planting,

‎ £30 million to expand Scotland's national forests, and £20 million to increase nursery stocks. The Resource Spending Review will reflect these priorities.

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.