The Scottish Government recognises that some people have found the application process for their National Entitlement Card complex. We therefore continue to work closely with the Improvement Service, which is ultimately responsible for the National Entitlement Card, to make further improvements to this process. Once these improvements have been implemented, we aim promote the scheme with a national marketing campaign.

In the meantime, we have undertaken extensive communications activities to increase awareness of the scheme; including sharing our robust communications toolkit with over 300 organisations who directly engage with young people and their families, and launching freebus.scot - providing simplified information regarding the application process and additional resources to promote the scheme.

My officials in Transport Scotland have been working with bus operators to monitor the impact on service levels and changes in vacancy levels. Officials are also in regular contact with the Department for Transport, DVLA and DVSA regarding issues about delays to licence applications and driver testing, which have affected recruitment and training of potential drivers.

In addition, Transport Scotland officials have convened a short-life group with operator reps, Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), COSLA, Skills Development Scotland, DWP and Scottish Government employment and skills officials to seek and facilitate solutions to workforce issues through the Labour and Skills Shortages Action Plan, as well as connecting Local Employability Partnerships with bus operators (through the Confederation of Passenger Transport) who are aware of opportunities in their areas.

The Scottish Government engages with the sea angling community through Angling Scotland, the umbrella organisation formed by the three Scottish Angling Governing Bodies: the Scottish Anglers National Organisation, the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling and the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers.

Recent engagement has concerned the commencement of angling activities in the run-up to and following the lifting of covid restrictions, with angling being recognised as a low impact activity that improves health and well-being. The last engagement with sea angling stakeholders concerned the use and usefulness for Scotland of the UK-wide Sea Angling Diary, however there was limited feedback.

Transport Scotland is continuing to engage with operators, delivery partners and other key stakeholders on the current Scottish Government Covid-19 guidance and recommended safe behaviours to ensure that the appropriate messaging is cascaded across the transport network. This engagement, which includes promoting the Scottish Government`s National “Covid sense” campaign, is supporting passengers to return to public transport with confidence as more people begin to return to workplaces and travel for leisure purposes more often.

To enable the building to be commissioned, the hospital will be fully equipped to treat orthopaedic patients around 3 months prior to the opening date.

The Scottish Budget for 2022-23 provides up to £93.5 million in support for bus services, including £40 million in additional funding to support recovery. As we navigate our way out of the pandemic, it is important that the support we give transport operators through the Network Support Grant adapts and evolves, to make sure it remains fit for purpose and represents value for money.

Passenger numbers have been increasing since Covid restrictions eased earlier this year. We continue to engage with operators and local government to monitor patronage and service levels and to consider whether to adjust the level of support as passenger numbers recover. This ensures that our funding is financially sustainable and helps services to adapt to new travel patterns and demand as we emerge from the pandemic.

I would also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08555 on 26 May 2022 for further information on how the Scottish Government are assisting operators in encouraging people back to bus.

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 .

As of March 2020-21, there were approximately 3,700 public service buses in Scotland. 605 will be zero-emissions and the remaining 3,095 are not zero-emission buses. The Scottish Government does not hold any further information on the fuel type of these buses and any requests for further information should be made directly to bus operators.

The Scottish Government has supported bus operators acquire a total of 548 zero emission buses through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) and the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS) combined, meaning there will be 548 fewer diesel buses on our roads. Full details are available on the Transport Scotland website at Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund | Transport Scotland and Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme - completed bids | Transport Scotland .

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is working to provide updated advice to NHS Boards to enable routine prescribing of sapropterin. We now expect this to be in place in June. In the meantime, doctors can request access to medicines that are not generally available on the NHS on an individual case-by-case basis through local health board medicine governance processes.

Pay for local government employees, including ancillary school staff, is negotiated between the trade unions and COSLA through the Scottish Joint Committee (SJC).

The Scottish Government is not a member of the SJC and does not take part in those negotiations. Any action to address or increase the pay of the non-teaching workforce is therefore a matter for COSLA.