The Scottish Government holds routine and ongoing discussions with all Health Board Directors of Pharmacy on a range of operational and policy issues regarding the delivery of NHS Pharmaceutical Care services. These include discussions on any proposed changes to contractual framework arrangements as set out in the Achieving Excellence in Pharmaceutical Care strategy recommendations.

The Scottish Government is not considering the introduction of powers for Health Boards to take over community pharmacies that are struggling to meet required standards.

Any challenges faced by community pharmacy contractors in delivering existing pharmaceutical care services should be discussed with the Health Boards who will be able to consider actions to support service provision.

As investigations into this matter are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment.

£10 million of funding was announced for long COVID in 2021 for a 3 year period, with the first year’s expenditure being £3 million. We will monitor the progress of the initiatives being funded by this investment and use this to inform expenditure in the remaining 2 years to best meet the needs of people living with long COVID.

In 2022-23, funding of £18 billion is provided for the health portfolio. This substantial investment is already benefitting a range of services that are supporting the needs of people living with long COVID.

Around the world, science has begun the work of trying to find an explanation, and treatments, for long COVID. We are investing £2.5 million in 9 Scottish-led research studies through our Chief Scientist Office. These studies aim to improve the understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on physical and mental health and wellbeing in Scotland, and inform clinical interventions to support recovery and rehabilitation.

Transforming our homes and buildings to be net zero carbon is one of the most important steps we can take to help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change and will require action from all of us.

New homes currently delivered through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) are required to meet Scottish building regulations which set high levels of energy efficiency and the installation of heating systems that produce zero direct emissions at the point of use is encouraged through the AHSP.

We are actively working with the construction and house building sectors to identify and support good practice and to help ensure that new regulations enforced from 2024 are achievable and effective. The Scottish Government is currently seeking views through the New Build Heat Standard (Part II ) consultation , open until 20 October 2022.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the UK's independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises and ensures pharmacy services are delivered in accordance with the required standards. There are no plans to instruct the Care Inspectorate to regulate this sector.

All stages of the menopause, including perimenopause, are within the scope of the menopause and menstrual health workplace policy.

The Scottish Government does not have any records of discussions involving Scottish Ministers or officials that may have taken place regarding the contents of a note reportedly submitted to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry by John Halley on 1 April 2019 in relation to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry.

Health boards can take a range of actions in response to any breach of terms by a pharmacy contractor. Community pharmacy contractors are required to meet the Terms of Service as set out in Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulation 2009. Should, in the opinion of the Health Board, a community pharmacy contractor breach the Terms of Service, they can consider taking any appropriate action in line with the noted Regulation and the National Health Service (Discipline Committees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

The results of the 2021 Scottish Health Survey have been pre-announced for publication on 8 November 2022.