Chamber and committees

In December 2019, we published a Neurological care and support framework for action with a vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including tremor-causing conditions, can access the care and support they need to live well on their own terms. Over five years we will invest £4.5 million of funding to implement the Framework’s 17 commitments.

Since October 2020, we have invested almost £1.4 million to collaborative and innovative projects to improve care and help deliver the aims of the Framework. The aims include improving the provision of co-ordinated health and social care and support, developing sustainable workforce models and ensuring high standards of person-centred care.

Implementation of the Framework has remained supported and prioritised throughout the pandemic. Key priorities for delivery in 2021-22 focus on improving information for patients and carers, better options to support self-management, developing improved care pathways, workforce, accurate data gathering, and use of digital health to support improvements in services

The Framework commits to ensuring that the legislation, policy and guidance that the NHS use when planning and commissioning services are designed to support consistent, timely and appropriate provision of care and support to people with neurological conditions, including those which cause tremor.

Scottish Government officials have had informal discussions with the manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, to provide early access to sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy ® ) on an individual patient case by case basis in line with standard processes for such circumstances before it is submitted to the Scottish Medicines Consortium for health technology assessment.

The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to amplify key campaign messages and ensure we are continuously aspiring to communicate effectively to the population of Scotland, delivering messaging in an inclusive way to reach all geographies and seldom heard communities, which includes those experiencing homelessness.

The Scottish Government also works very closely with Local Authorities, and provides regular updates on marketing activity and coronavirus-related information. The feedback we receive from Local Authorities helps shape our communications offering, and their distribution channels allow us to reach grassroots organisations and target communities with relevant messaging.

An appointment is no longer required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as all health boards now offer drop in vaccinations to those who have not had a first dose and to those for whom it has been more than 8 weeks since receiving their first dose.

Everyone aged 18 and over on (and including) 31 October 2021 has now been invited for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes adults experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

In Spring 2021, following new advice from the JCVI, priority group 6 was expanded in Scotland to include people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

Homeless services across the country were consulted to inform the delivery model for this community to ensure they are offered the COVID-19 vaccination in a suitable way. Following on from this, an assertive outreach model has been adopted by Health Boards across Scotland, in partnership with frontline local authority and the third sector, to reach those experiencing homelessness. For example, vaccinations have been taken to people in temporary accommodation and at support service premises. These sessions have been organised in partnership and attended by known and trusted support workers to provide support and reassurance for people. This outreach approach continues to be taken by Health Boards to ensure that people experiencing homelessness come forward for their second dose vaccination.

Scottish Government officials continue to discuss progress on inclusive outreach approaches with all Health Boards on a regular basis and learning is shared between Health Boards. More information on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found in the Covid Vaccine Deployment Plan which was last updated in July 2021.

The homelessness status of those being vaccinated is not recorded at the time of vaccination. By the nature of homelessness short or long term, this data would be difficult to track. As of 31 August 2021, 91% of people in Scotland have had a 1st dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. An appointment is no longer required as all health boards now offer drop in vaccinations to those who have not had a first dose and to those from whom it has been more than 8 weeks since receiving their first dose. We continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to communicate to the entire population, including seldom heard communities on the importance and availability of vaccination for COVID-19.

The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) provided support to purchase new ultra low emission buses. The scheme was open to bus operators, local authorities and companies leasing buses to authorities/bus operators who run local registered bus services in Scotland. The bids included information about the buses that would be acquired, including the manufacturer, but whether the manufacturer was domestic or otherwise was not factored into the assessment of the bids. Scotland is bound by World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidy control rules and the WTO’s principle of National Treatment prohibits discrimination between imported and domestically produced goods, however of the 272 buses purchased under this scheme 207 have been ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd, the bus manufacturing company based in Larbert, Scotland.

The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme has now been replaced by the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Bidders are strongly encouraged to put in place arrangements with partners or collaborators, to minimise the level of subsidy being requested. Bids from domestic manufacturers, or involving domestic manufacturers, will be assessed on the same basis as bids from other eligible parties. Scotland is bound by World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidy control rules and the WTO’s principle of National Treatment prohibits discrimination between imported and domestically produced goods.

There are a large number of ports and harbours around the Scottish coast ranging in size from large commercial ports to local piers, slipways and marinas. Ownership models include harbour trusts, privately owned harbours, local authority ownership and harbours owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. We value the diverse range of port ownership in Scotland and the benefits this brings for communities and other stakeholders. Any public sector expenditure on port infrastructure should be carried out with the aim of achieving the best value for money.

By law, you must wear a face covering on trains and inside railway stations in Scotland.

ScotRail has clearly communicated this message to customers via prominent signage and announcements on trains and within stations, social media messaging and joint media releases with the British Transport Police (BTP) and Network Rail Scotland.

Enforcement of the wearing of face coverings on the railway rests with the BTP. BTP officers continue to conduct join initiatives with ScotRail and deploy to non-compliance hotspots.