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We believe that Naloxone should be available to anyone who might witness an overdose. Our overall aim is to widen the access to it as much as possible.

Since the inception of the NNP the Scottish Government has commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) to report on take-home naloxone (THN) kit distribution using monitoring data supplied by NHS Boards, this report is produced quarterly. The last report (covering 1 January to 31 March 2021) stated that coverage was now estimated to be 57.47% (an increase of around 1.5% compared to the previous quarter – 56.04%).

International evidence suggests that focus should not only be on the distribution but also on encouraging carriage and accessibility of Naloxone.

To improve awareness of naloxone, and to ensure people would recognise the signs of a drug overdose, we launched a nationwide marketing campaign on International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August), in partnership with Scottish Drugs Forum.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring Covid testing is as accessible as possible and we have put in place a number of initiatives to encourage the use of lateral flow tests for routine asymptomatic testing. Our communication campaign recommends that members of the public use the lateral flow tests to test themselves twice a week. Our aim is to ensure that lateral flow tests are widely available and accessible to anyone who wants to use them. A target would not be helpful to deliver this.

As stated previously, the Scottish Government has used a number of approaches to promote regular testing; this includes targeted campaigns and guidance on how to access test supplies and the introduction of Pharmacy Collect. We will continue to develop campaigns to promote the importance of regular testing in preventing the transmission of Covid-19.

Our Alcohol Framework 2018: Preventing Harm is in line with the World Health Organization’s recommended approach of reducing the availability, attractiveness and affordability of alcohol. On treatment, our Rights, Respect and Recovery: alcohol and drug treatment strategy clearly sets out that individuals have the right to health and life - free from the harms of alcohol and drugs, are treated with dignity and respect and are fully supported within their communities to find the type of recovery which works for them.

We are undertaking a range of work to improve Alcohol Treatment Services, including implementation of the UK Wide Clinical Guidelines for Alcohol Treatment.

While the Scottish Government keeps legislation under review, we have no current plans to introduce a social responsibility levy.

The Scottish Government has used a number of initiatives to promote regular testing using lateral flow devices. This includes:

• Running targeted campaigns to promote the importance of testing through platforms including TV, radio and social media.
• Promoting free access to lateral flow test kits that are delivered directly to a person’s home.
• Introducing Pharmacy Collect – a service that allows the collection of free lateral flow test kits from over 1000 pharmacies throughout Scotland

The Scottish Government has worked with NHS Inform to promote information on how to accurately take an LFD test. This included commissioning a video from Professor Jason Leitch with instructions on how to take the test. This has been translated into multiple languages including BSL, Arabic, Polish and Urdu. Information on NHS Inform pages , for example on where to get a test, has also been translated.

The Scottish Government continues to produce testing information and campaigns to help aid the use and promotion of testing and will continue to do so throughout the course of this pandemic.

Public Health Scotland is leading the comprehensive evaluation of minimum unit pricing which is a five year programme, with a final evaluation report due in 2023. The evaluation includes assessing the impact of minimum unit pricing on the alcohol industry in Scotland. It is too early in the evaluation to say anything definitive about the impact on producers and retailers. However, an initial qualitative assessment, Evaluating the impacts on the alcoholic drinks industry Report , found that, overall, effects on retailer revenue and prices are small as increased margins have compensated for decreased volumes, and the effect on producer revenues and profitability is negative but small. A final report, which will analyse quantitative data, is due in 2022.

As detailed in the Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Statistical Report, as at 19 July 2021, which was published on the 21 July 2021, 46.2% of the Scottish White Polish population have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine compared to 87.8% of the wider White Scottish population. The White Polish demographic breaks down further into age cohorts as follows:

The much smaller non-White Polish demographics are contained in the wider Scottish categories in the report.

Vaccination update of first dose by age group – White Polish

The Scottish Government has set up a National Vaccine Inclusive Steering Group with representatives from Health Boards, faith groups, third and community sector, and works closely with BEMIS, the national umbrella body supporting the development of the Ethnic Minorities Voluntary Sector in Scotland, and regularly participates in the Ethnic Minority National Resilience Group (EMNRG), which includes organisations representing the Polish Community.

Polish is one of the primary languages as set out by Public Health Scotland, and Polish translations have been prioritised for all coronavirus-related guidance, which has included regularly updated translations on NHS Inform, Strategic Framework updates on gov.scot and Polish translations of all National door drops. This is shared via SG Marketing, SG Policy, NHS 24 and via a number of stakeholders, to reach Polish communities.

Provision of messages/ guidance has been made to Polish community organisations in order to appropriately translate and share in language more likely to elicit action within the context of Polish culture/language. An explainer video for minority ethnic communities – tackling barriers – translated into Polish was developed as part of the Phase 2 campaign deliverables targeted at 18-49 year olds, which looks to address barriers to vaccine uptake identified by ME communities. The explainer video was produced in multiple languages including Polish, and provides key facts about the Covid vaccines for those who may be hesitant, or for those more likely to have been exposed to myths/misinformation. The content of this video has been shaped by engagement with BEMIS and the Ethnic Minority National Resilience Group, which includes input from the Polish community. This video has been distributed via partnership channels and via stakeholders to those groups who may not be as likely to be reached by traditional media.

FENIKS have been awarded funding via the Scottish Government award to BEMIS, for additional translations of Coronavirus vaccine information/materials into Polish. Feniks was set up in 2007 as a charity supporting integration and aiming at improving the wellbeing of the Central Eastern European Community in Edinburgh. It seeks to help individuals and families who have moved away from their homeland in facing the challenges which can result from immigration. https://www.feniks.org.uk

A live Q+A session was held online 6 July 2021 with Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, with the session chaired by Feniks. Key questions were gathered beforehand from members of the community, including issues causing some hesitancy, for example on vaccine efficacy and safety. The session was also translated live. The Scottish Government is continuing to support the work of Feniks on providing information and increasing uptake of Covid vaccine.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) are supporting the work of health boards including work continuing in local health board areas with the Polish community, including targeting workforces and large employers, including food processing.

Following the implementation of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening in March 2020, the screening interval for all participants where HPV is not found in their sample will be five years. The five year interval will apply to women only once they have been screened using the hr-HPV primary screen and received a negative result. Women who receive a positive result will receive more frequent screening depending on what cell changes are found in cytology.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-35673 on 5 March 2021. Since that answer, the working group met again on 5 July and will continue to make progress over the rest of 2021.

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