Chamber and committees

The costs associated with establishing an identity for Qualifications Scotland were set out in the Financial Memorandum that accompanied the Education (Scotland) Bill and were the best estimate available at the time.

A cost relating to the creation of an identity of a new public body will always be incurred and Qualifications Scotland is no exception. I requested that my officials look at ways to bear down on costs where possible while still delivering an identity for Qualifications Scotland. I can confirm that officials have been working closely with the SQA on this, to ensure that value for money for taxpayers is achieved.

The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024.

We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps and timelines for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

The Scottish Government recognises that funding will be required to support Boards to make the transition to a reformed maternity and neonatal service. We are continuing to provide transitional funding to Boards, as we have done for NHS GGC and NHS Lothian since 2019, with additional support for NHS Grampian now being included. This funding is focused on supporting Boards through the transition process.

We have been working with the regional implementation leads on development of plans for implementation to include a business case (or equivalent operational financial plan) with costs, with the expectation that a phased transition to the new model will begin in the new year.

To date, we have provided over £30 million of funding to NHS Boards to support implementation of the Best Start recommendations, and we are currently looking at future funding for maternity services in the next financial year.

Through the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform, we have made information on a range of health topics, including endometriosis, available to women online and in one place. Reciprocal connections have been made throughout the platform with other Scottish Government sites such as Parent Club and with third sector organisations including Endometriosis UK and Endo SOS helping to raise awareness of the condition and supporting women to access the information they need when they need it.

In March 2023 we delivered an engagement campaign in partnership with Young Scot to increase young people’s awareness of endometriosis. The campaign primarily targeted those aged 11 to 25 in Scotland and provided information on how to support a young person in the process of diagnosis or who may have endometriosis.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has continued to support the Women’s Health Plan through their dedicated lived experience programme. This has included the development of the conversation café toolkit to encourage information sharing and peer support on women’s health including menstrual health and endometriosis.

We are committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis are able to access the best possible care and support and that they benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

Through the Women’s Health Plan we are taking steps to support both women and health professionals to learn more about endometriosis, the symptoms and treatment options to improve the diagnostic process. Our Women’s Health Plan 2021 - 2024 Final Report on progress provides further details of our work to date.

When developing the next phase of the Plan we will build on this progress and seek to ensure that all women receive a timely diagnosis for endometriosis together with access to the care and support that they need.

For patients on a waiting list to see a healthcare specialist there is information available on NHS Inform with advice on health and wellbeing whilst they await their appointment. More information can be found at: Waiting well | NHS inform.

The priorities of the ILG will flex and take account of changing economic and policy circumstances, but will continue to develop actions in the Retail Strategy on:

(a) Fair Work -The Industry Leadership Group will take forward the action on Fair Work, working with members to produce a Fair Work document which will showcase good examples of Fair Work in the sector and contain useful resources for organisations, using the valuable insight gained from the Fair Work Working Group (FWWG).

(b) Just Transition - The ILG will work across industry to share expertise and promote best practice.

(c) Retail skills - An audit has been completed, and an action plan has been drafted, with priority areas identified. Discussions are currently taking place with Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Government Employability Division and other stakeholders, including Local Employability Partnerships, to implement and evaluate a pilot approach to developing a pipeline of trained, informed and motivated individuals to compete for available jobs in the retail sector.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise flu vaccination for those aged 65 years and over. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotland expanded the programme to protect individuals, public services and the NHS. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scottish Government made a policy decision to expanded the programme to protect individuals, public services and the NHS.

Eligibility criteria for the last three years are set out below.

2024-25:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 65+
• Those aged 18 to 64 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per Green Book Chapter 19 (GBC19)
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • asylum seekers in Home Office hotel accommodation
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Poultry workers & bird keepers
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children

2023-24:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 50 +
• Those aged 18 to 49 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per GBC19
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Poultry workers
• Teachers
• Prison staff
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children

2022-23:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 50 +
• Those aged 18 to 49 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per GBC19
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Teachers
• Prison staff
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children

Since April 2023, the Scottish Government has published the median time from offence date to verdict date by court type. The most recent data covering 2023-24 reported in the Journey times in the Scottish Criminal Justice System: 2023-24 bulletin, shows the median offence to verdict times figures in supplementary table 4. Further information including median police known to verdict times can be found in the Journey times in the Scottish Criminal Justice System interactive dashboard.

The Scottish Government is aware of concerns that have been raised around online alcohol sales in Scotland. Officials are engaging with industry and business stakeholders to better understand these concerns and continue to keep the potential impact of this developing market under review.

Public Health Scotland holds alcohol retail sales data for both the on-trade and off-trade, which includes all electronic point of sale data for the main supermarkets and a representative sample of smaller retailers and independent stores. This data includes alcohol purchased online from larger national supermarkets which is processed on premises. Detailed information on cross-border online alcohol sales is not available and such information is likely to be commercially confidential and would require businesses to supply this on a voluntary basis.

The Best Start (2017) recommended that all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. We have no plans to introduce guidance on the number of parent beds that should be available in each unit.

We are currently working with Regional Chief Executives and Regional Planners who are leading on development of plans for implementation of the new model of neonatal care, with the expectation that a phased transition to the new model will begin later this year. Accommodation is part of Board’s planning under the new model of neonatal care implementation.