Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23822 on 19 December 2023. 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 recognises the significant impact of Storm Babet on people, businesses and communities. The Government has been working closely with affected local authorities on a package of support to help people whose homes and businesses were flooded. This package includes extending the Bellwin scheme’s application window to help all Councils, including Argyll and Bute, cover eligible expenditure for urgent repairs.

The Scottish Welfare Fund also provides emergency support to those on low incomes in Scotland, including in Argyll and Bute. Support may be provided through the provision of Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants, including to those who have experienced a disaster situation, such as a flood. Residents can apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund through their Council.

This support is in addition to Scotland’s longer-term investment in flood resilience, where we have committed £150m over the course of this Parliament to deliver improved flood resilience, in addition to the £42m provided annually to councils for flood resilience through the general capital grant.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s mid-year registration data report covers a six-month period and reflects those with a Scottish address who have registered, it does not indicate actual employment in Scotland’s health sector. The report itself therefore cannot be used as a true reflection of recruitment in Scotland.

Whilst the report shows a 22% increase in registration in Scotland compared to a 27.7% increase in registration across the UK in the last six months relative to the same period last year, nursing and midwifery levels per head of population show that we have 8.4 qualified Nurses and Midwives per 1,000 population, compared to 6.3 in England, 8.2 in Wales and 9.1 in Northern Island. This means nursing and midwifery levels are 32% higher, per head of population in Scotland than in England. Overall Nursing and Midwifery staffing in Scotland is at a record high and remains the best paid across the UK.

I have Ministerial portfolio responsibility for access to new medicines in Scotland. Accordingly, as you know, I met with you on 6 December 2023 together with representatives of Scottish cystic fibrosis (CF) families to listen to their concerns directly.

In addition, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) engages with representatives of Quest for a Cure, a patient group who represent Scottish CF families, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The Scottish Government uses a range of measures and sources to consider and report on the impact of the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.

Nationally published data, such as the annual Educational Outcomes for Looked after Children is used to consider the impact of this fund. It is encouraging that the latest statistics show an improving position for care experienced children and young people. Whilst real progress has been made, there remains a sizeable gap between the educational outcomes of care experienced children and young people and all pupils. It’s within that context that Scottish Government officials are currently working with local government to develop a long-term approach to improving these outcomes in response to the Promise.

The impact of the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund is also considered as part of the Evaluation Strategy for the Attainment Scotland Fund 2022 – 2026 . The first annual evaluation plan for 2022-23 , published in February 2023 and, most recently, the SAC Leads Survey Report published 22 September 2023. Evidence from the latter of those shows the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund is viewed to have supported strategic decision-making to improve attainment or outcomes for care experienced children and young people within respondent local authorities. Dedicated postholders such as Virtual Headteachers were also highlighted for their positive contribution towards joint working and capacity building.

Existing local authority Education Standards and Quality reports (or local equivalent reports) are also used to report on the progress being made with the support of all Attainment Scotland Funding, including the Care Experienced Children and Young People Funding. Within these reports each local authority presents a clear narrative on the extent to which this funding has influenced and supported local approaches to making progress towards identified stretch aims and achieving the mission of the Scottish Attainment Challenge. Many local authorities have also set specific targets for care experienced children and young people in their stretch aims and these are published as part of the aggregated measures .

The National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan is designed to help us deliver the twin aims of excellence and equity; galvanising efforts and aligning our collective improvement activities across all partners in the education system to address our key priorities. At national level, this Improvement Plan summarises the key evidence and identifies both ongoing and new improvement activity that we will be taking forward or supporting at national level. These plans also play a role in measuring ongoing activity and the impact of this fund.

Following the most recent request from the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK on 20 November for remedial funding to address their estimated deficits, as well as a new national funding framework and arrangements to future proof partnership and funding arrangements, I convened a round table with independent hospices and Health and Social Care Partnerships on 5 December. I indicated that unfortunately, their ask for funding remains unaffordable.

The financial position across Scottish Government is extremely challenging and work is ongoing to identify measures to address the continued challenges in 2023-24 and beyond.

Integration Joint Boards are responsible for the governance, planning, and resourcing of adult palliative care services, including hospices, using the integrated budget under their control. We will therefore also continue to work with Integration Joint Boards and independent hospices to explore solutions and options for longer term sustainable planning and funding for the hospice sector.

The funding and commissioning of specialist and general palliative and end of life care services, including workforce planning and allocating resources for staffing, is a matter for Integration Joint Boards (IJBs). It is the responsibility of IJBs to plan and commission adult palliative and end of life care services for their areas using the integrated budgets under their control.

Scottish Government officials will continue to engage with Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) and Scottish hospices in relation to supporting local planning, commissioning and resourcing of independent hospice care.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22774 on 21 November 2023. 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.

I welcome the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA’s) recent extension to the licence for Kaftrio ® and Kalydeco ® to include children aged two to five years old which will help address the unmet needs of younger children with cystic fibrosis in Scotland. I can also confirm that, while the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) multiple technology appraisal (MTA) is ongoing, all existing and new patients in Scotland who are on, or who are started on, a CF medicine, including Kaftrio ® , will continue to have access to that CF medicine after NICE and the SMC issue their final recommendations. This will be irrespective of the outcome of the appraisal and will cover any need to subsequently switch to a different CF medicine.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23384 on 11 December 2023. 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.

My officials engage with the UK Government on a range of medicines-related matters, including the availability of medicines, and keep me updated as required.