All those aged 6 months and over, who are immunosuppressed, are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this spring, along with all those aged 75 and over, and residents in care homes for older adults.

Those who are immunosuppressed cannot receive what are called live attenuated vaccines, but none of the four COVID-19 mRNA vaccine products in use during the spring 2025 programme (Moderna Spikevax JN.1, Pfizer Comirnaty JN.1 Adult, Paediatric and Infant formulations) are live attenuated vaccines and therefore immunosuppressed individuals can safely receive all four of them. Leaflets about the COVID-19 vaccines offered during spring 2025 are available on NHS inform.

Four organisations submitted a tender to host the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland:

1.Edinburgh Innovations Ltd and University of Edinburgh

2.Impact Funding Partners

3.University Court University of Glasgow

4.University of Strathclyde

The bids were evaluated in line with standard procurement processes.

The bid received from the University of Strathclyde, in partnership with the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, outlined that the Observatory would be hosted at the University of Strathclyde.

The National Fertility Group, (formerly the National Infertility Group) held meetings in the current parliamentary session on the following dates:

1 June 2021

24 February 2022

10 August 2022

22 March 2023

22 August 2023

23 November 2023

29 April 2024

17 September 2024

27 February 2025

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of transparency and is committed to continuing to share information on progress with the implementation of recommendations made in the Independent Review of Complaints Handling, Investigations and Misconduct Issues in Relation to Policing.

Since the Review was published in November 2020 the Scottish Government has undertaken extensive work alongside policing partners to implement recommendations. To-date 59 out of 72 non-legislative recommendations have been delivered and five reports setting out progress have been published on the Scottish Government website. Additionally, the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act 2025 discharges or paves the way via regulations for the majority of the legislative recommendations to be discharged.

A further update to report on the recommendations will be provided to Parliament before the end of the parliamentary term and subsequently published on the Scottish Government website.

A decision on the consultation will be made in due course and after the peer review of the research paper on the role and functions of the Law Officers has concluded. The peer review is expected to conclude next month.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Restorative Justice services can be offered by a wide range of organisations - not only by local authorities - including by third sector or faith-based organisations.

We continue to work in partnership with Community Justice Scotland and the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice focussing on achieving our vision – to have restorative justice available at a time that is appropriate to the people and case involved; consistent; evidence-led, trauma informed and of a high standard.

Maternity services continue to be provided for women in Wigtownshire, including local antenatal and postnatal care, scanning and the option of midwife-supported home birth for women who choose to birth locally. Women who require more complex maternity care continue to be supported by the full clinical team at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. Responsibility for the design and delivery of local services lies with NHS Boards and Integration Joint Boards in line with their duties to deliver safe, effective and sustainable care. The findings and rationale behind the IJB’s decision not to reopen the birth unit in Stranraer are publicly available on the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership’s website: Integration Joint Board Meetings 2021-2025 – Dumfries & Galloway Health & Social Care. Like all Boards, NHS Dumfries and Galloway is expected to continually assess risk and outcomes as part of routine clinical governance.

Salmon farming is regulated primarily as development by Local Authorities through planning permissions granted under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. Other consents can include a seabed lease from Crown Estate Scotland, a licence from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (“SEPA”) under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and a Marine Licence from the Scottish Government's Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team for the deposit of equipment under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Incidents of marine pollution are typically reported to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (“MCA”), who then inform other relevant authorities. Where pollution is suspected to be associated with an aquaculture site, SEPA has primacy in investigating the cause and considering any potential sanctions.

In cases of pollution elsewhere than at an aquaculture site, the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate can investigate and it can take action if the evidence indicates that an offence under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 has been committed. This can include cases of unlicensed deposits of a substance or object into the marine environment or a failure to comply with the conditions of a licensed activity.

In the case of a vessel sinking, the responsible authority is the MCA and it directs any salvage operations through powers held by the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (“SOSREP”). The MCA also has responsibility for pollution emanating from vessels under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MarPol”).

Tovorafenib does not currently have a marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Before a company can place a medicine on the market in the UK it has to obtain regulatory approval by submitting data demonstrating the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine in terms of treating a specified condition. This data is derived from clinical trials. If a marketing authorisation is granted, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) would welcome a submission for tovorafenib. The Scottish Government is aware that there is an international, phase 3 clinical trial looking at tovorafenib for the first line treatment of paediatric low-grade glioma which is open to people who meet the eligibility criteria. It is the responsibility of the clinician in charge of a patient’s care to advise on what treatment options may be available.

From 2025-26 we will align the support we provide for pay uplifts in the hospice sector to the outcomes of the NHS Agenda for Change negotiations. This will ensure that hospices will get the additional funding needed to see their healthcare staff match pay increases with NHS staff.