Chamber and committees

In my capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, I can confirm that I have not met Buchan and Formartine Opposed to Big Energy.

The Scottish Government supports the delivery of the highest standards of palliative care, and we will give this report and its recommendations careful consideration. Our palliative care strategy, currently out for public consultation, aims to ensure that people can access well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around dying, and bereavement support based on what matters to them.

High energy prices are the single most important driver of fuel poverty. Within our devolved powers we continue to support vulnerable households through our winter heating benefits, provision of free income maximisation support, welfare and debt advice and energy efficiency schemes. However the powers to make a real difference remain reserved to Westminster. That is why the UK Government must introduce a social tariff mechanism as a means of targeted support for those who need it most, including terminally ill people who are struggling with their energy bills. The Scottish Government is making progress on co-designing such a mechanism with industry and has agreed to report to the UK Government on this work as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland. However, in considering the future direction for the audiology sector, it is right that we move forward in step with the work of the Independent Review of audiology and this – together with the wider financial and strategic context in which we are currently operating – has necessitated the re-phasing of our commitment on community hearing. We are continuing to fund “RNID Near You”, a third sector after-care scheme offered to hearing aid users and delivered in partnership with the NHS within five Scottish health board areas.

COPFS’ case management database does not recognise the category of death of ‘industrial accident’. In order to identify deaths which may fall into this category, each of the 576 Crown-instructed post mortem examinations which were performed in Aberdeen in 2023-24 would require to be reviewed.

NHS Grampian provides the postmortem toxicology service for Aberdeen, Grampian and the Highlands and Islands. The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) provides the service for the rest of Scotland. SPA also currently processes priority cases for the whole of Scotland.

The current average turnaround time for post mortem toxicology results for non-priority cases referred to NHS Grampian in 2024 is 15.5 days, calculated from the date the samples arrive at the laboratory.

The current average turnaround time for post mortem toxicology results for cases referred to SPA in 2024, is 28 days for priority cases and 30.8 days for non-priority cases.

These figures are within the target agreed between COPFS and the toxicology providers.

COPFS is the client and receiver of pathology services in Scotland and is not responsible for the training of pathologists.

The forensic histopathology training programme is delivered by the NHS, following Royal College of Pathologists curriculum and in conjunction with forensic pathology service providers at NHS sites across Scotland. There are four training positions within the NHS in Scotland. Training and retention are a matter for the NHS and pathology service providers.

However, COPFS encourages the training and development of Forensic Pathology trainees in Scotland by providing exposure to Crown-instructed post mortems as part of the training programme with the assistance of service providers. As part of the training programme, Forensic Pathology trainees are encouraged to attend court to experience the court system and the methods used to obtain evidence from professional witnesses.

COPFS has provided an awareness session to paediatric pathologists in Scotland led by a senior Advocate Depute and will consider further sessions in the future.

COPFS recorded an increase of more than 40% in the number of deaths reported compared to pre-pandemic figures.

However, I am not aware of any significant impact on the availability or scheduling of post mortem examinations in Aberdeen.

Capacity within Aberdeen mortuary is not an issue and there are no current plans to increase the capacity for conducting post mortem examinations in Aberdeen.

A new mortuary facility in Aberdeen that will co-locate the Aberdeen City Mortuary and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Mortuary business is due to open in 2025. This will provide improved facilities for staff and families who are required to engage in the post mortem process.

There are no forensic pathologists currently based in Aberdeen.

Two members of administration staff support the pathology service in Aberdeen.

Any case that requires the post mortem examination to be conducted by two Forensic Pathologists is currently referred from Aberdeen to Edinburgh by COPFS. The majority of these are potential homicide cases.