Chamber and committees

As this is an operational matter relating to grant information, I have asked the Chief Executives of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise to respond to you directly.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Migraine Trust report as an important document setting out some of the difficulties faced by people living with migraine. At the start of this year the Modernising Patients Pathway Programme (MPPP) initiated a Headache Management Pathway. This process is well underway, focusing initially on migraine. This developing pathway addresses key areas outlined in the Migraine Trust report and has representation from pharmacy, general practice, emergency medicine and neurology. I understand that the migraine section is due to be completed by the end of 2021 and will review the Migraine Trust report as part of that process.

More widely, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery continues to support work on Active Clinical Referral Triage. This works aims to ensure that patients with neurological conditions who require appointments most urgently are seen as soon as possible, while those who may not benefit from a Consultant appointment are returned to the GP with advice and guidance. The Centre is also working to expand Discharge Patient Initiated Review, which aims to avoid unnecessary return appointments, again supporting access for those patient who need to be seen in a timely manner.

As indicated in the report, a majority of the responding NHS health boards have reported having a headache service. Within smaller health boards, this may be as part of a general neurology service, or a referral route to one of the tertiary services.

To support workforce capacity and planning, Scottish Government will publish a National Workforce Strategy by the end of this year, which supports the remobilisation, recovery and renewal of Health and Social Care Services. The Strategy will articulate a long-term health and social care workforce vision, alongside our priorities for workforce growth, recruitment, retention, training and development, and will build upon our ongoing work to support Boards’ workforce capacity.

Officials recently met with the Migraine Trust to discuss current issues regarding migraine care in Scotland and potential areas for future progress and partnership working, and the Scottish Government is happy to work further with stakeholders in raising awareness of Migraine Awareness Week going forward.

The ability to access public services offered online by local authorities and other public bodies is critical, and our experiences of the pandemic have highlighted the pressing need to close the digital divide.

Since May 2020 the Scottish Government has invested £48 million through the Connecting Scotland programme to provide a device, connectivity, as well as training and support to those on low incomes, allowing them to realise the full benefits of being online, including accessing local authority services.

Connecting Scotland is delivered in collaboration with key partners, including local authorities, COSLA, SCVO and third sector organisations.

The recently published report Connecting Scotland - A Year in View sets out the scale of the investment and the impact of the programme. So far, Connecting Scotland has brought 40,000 people online and is on the way to reaching 60,000 by the end of 2021. As set out in the Programme for Government, by the end of this Parliament, we will ensure Connecting Scotland has supported up to 300,000 households to get online, backed by £200 million of investment.

As no timeline has been specified by the member, information from‎ 22 March 2021 to 22 September 2021 is provided. During this period, no meetings have taken place between Cabinet Secretaries or Ministers with representatives of CalaChem Ltd in Grangemouth. The Scottish Government does not hold the information on Scottish Enterprise meetings with CalaChem Ltd centrally. However, I have requested that Scottish Enterprise respond to the member directly with this information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02989 on‎ 27 September 2021. 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 funded Saltire Research Awards will this year support 93 research projects through the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) schemes and create around 70 exchanges through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) scheme, across a broad range of disciplines and partners. Details on these are available on the RSE and SFC websites. Funding awards to successful bids will be made shortly.

The Scottish Government welcomes this regeneration and infrastructure investment in North Ayrshire, which will improve the wellbeing of the community and help to deliver long term inclusive growth for Ardrossan and wider North Ayrshire.

The Ardrossan harbour re-development project at its current stage of development is estimated to cost between £35-£40million. The final cost will not be known until the tender and procurement stages have been undertaken and a contractor appointed. A significant contribution has been sought from the Scottish Government and discussions with Peel Ports Group continue. We remain committed to a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost effective way reflecting the needs of all of the partners involved.

Through the Ayrshire Growth Deal the Scottish Government have committed to invest £9.5 million in the Marine Tourism project which will be centred in Ardrossan. The project will develop the essential infrastructure to support marine tourism including the provision of a major extension to Ardrossan Marina. The International Marine Science and Environment Centre, while also included in the Growth Deal, will funded be by the UK Government and the regional partners.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02919 on‎ 27 September 2021. 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 is aware that East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, along with many areas across the country, is experiencing extreme pressures due to increased demand for care and staffing pressures, due to annual leave, sickness and self-isolation of staff. The partnership has taken the difficult decision to temporarily relocate the bed capacity and staff from Edington Hospital to East Lothian Hospital to maintain safe staffing levels and provide safe and functional care. The partnership also has plans to open 10 additional interim care beds at Crookson Care Home within 3 months, which will provide additional step-down capacity and help improve the flow through hospital.

East Lothian Integrated Joint Board has established a Care Homes and Community Hospital Change Board, to oversee the developments and look at the longer term options for community hospitals in East Lothian, Including Belhaven and Edington hospitals.

We are working with Health Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to address current workforce issues and improve hospital flow and discharge arrangements across Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02718 on 24 September 2021. 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