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We are committed to tackling Islamophobia in all its forms, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that young Muslims are able to participate fully in society at all levels. We will continue to tackle hate crime, encourage people to report it, and challenge prejudice and intolerance wherever it exists. Our vibrant and multi-faceted minority communities make a significant contribution to our national life – we will ensure that continues to be recognised and celebrated.

We are supporting a programme of work through a coalition of equality organisations to increase representation of women, disabled people, and those from Black Minority Ethnic communities and faith groups – as well as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex communities - in politics.

Young Scot is working with the Scottish Government’s Race Equality Team, through a co-design model for race equality in Scotland of young people from minority ethnic backgrounds and communities in realising the vision and ambition of the Race Equality Framework. To advance race equality, tackling racism and addressing the barriers that prevent people from minority ethnic communities from realising their potential.

We have provided over £300,000 of funding to Show Racism the Red Card, Amina and Interfaith Scotland from the Equality Budget during 2016-17 to help promote equality and address discrimination. Of this funding Amina has been delivering workshops in secondary Schools since 2012 to tackle Islamophobia and raise awareness of Islam.

On World Interfaith Harmony Day - 7 February 2017, Interfaith Scotland and St. Ninians School collaborated on an Interfaith event to encourage harmony between all regardless of faith. This was attended by over 200 young people attended from 6 schools.

Show Racism the Red Card has a project Tackling Contemporary Racism delivers a transformative educational programme to young people across Scotland to educate against formation of racist attitudes including Islamophobia.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08278 on 13 April 2017 which addresses this question in part and is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

In addition, we are committed to tackling gender stereotyping in all its forms, and we recognise the importance of ensuring that young Muslim women are able to participate fully in society at all levels. We are taking a range of steps to advance gender equality and tackle violence against women, and a draft delivery plan for our Equally Safe strategy was published on 23 March setting out ambitious steps in this area.

The Scottish Government is funding Amina £111,534 and Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations Scotland (CEMVO) with funding of £62,000 for 2016/17. CEMVO is establishing a minority ethnic Women’s network and aiming to hold a number of related events in 2017 to link in to the Race Equality Framework (REF) actions. The first event was held on 22 February, with over 90 women attending. As well as looking at the vision, purpose and structure of a possible network for Minority Ethnic women, discussion took place on employability issues, with potential solutions identified. Additionally over the course of 2017 we will organise a series of Themed Roundtables linked to REF themes involving policy officials with key experts from a range of statutory and third sector organisations and academia. One of these Roundtable events will focus on employability and, amongst other sources, will consider the feedback gathered at the minority ethnic women’s network event.

Amina works to promote equality for Muslim Women by tackling prejudice, hate crime and inspiring community cohesion. Amina’s Building Bridges project focuses on Muslim, Minority Ethnic women in Dundee to provide information and support on a range of areas from mental wellbeing to registering to vote. Building confidence and participation that strengthens Muslim, Minority Ethnic women of all backgrounds to fulfil their potential and participate fully.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04906 on 30 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

NHS Boards fund the treatment of hepatitis C from their overall baseline funding as provided by the Scottish Government. This funding is confirmed following the approval of the Scottish Government’s annual Budget Bill with spending plans outlined each year in the Draft Budget or Scottish Spending Review.

The latest Spending Review covered financial year 2017-18. NHS Boards are currently in the process of preparing 3-year financial plans as part of the annual Local Delivery Plan process. It is a matter for NHS Boards to plan for the provision of Hepatitis C treatments in line with their financial plans.

The current funding and procurement model has allowed significant progress in regards to the treatment of hepatitis C in Scotland, demonstrated by an ambitious target of 1800 initiated treatments in 2017-18 and a 22% reduction in hepatitis
C-related liver failure in 2015.

National Procurement leads on the procurement of medicines on behalf of NHS Scotland. Ensuring best value in medicine treatment costs will support NHS Scotland in eliminating hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030. National Procurement have on-going engagement with the Hepatitis C Treatment and Therapies Group and with the NHS in Scotland more generally to ensure effective co-operation on this common objective.

The Scottish Government sponsors work, being undertaken by Glasgow Caledonian University and HPS, to assess the cost effectiveness of general population screening for hepatitis C. The results of this assessment will be available by mid-2017. Further, Health Protection Scotland, together with NHS boards, is organising a symposium on hepatitis C case finding in the autumn of 2017. Its aim is to review progress in case finding and current strategy and, if appropriate, to advise the revision of strategy going forward.

The identification of people who have hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses is the task of local Health Boards. Funding and relevant objectives for this case finding are part of the NHS Outcomes Framework allocation for each Board which can be used at its discretion.

The Scottish Government provides policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations.

Within this context, the actual assessment of healthcare services provided for people living with arthritis is a matter for individual NHS Boards. Additionally, access to specialist support for people with arthritis forms part of an individual’s care package, in agreement with relevant healthcare professionals.

Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self-management. The plan sits alongside our National Clinical Strategy, which evidenced the need to change the way services are delivered in order to continue meet the healthcare needs of our population, setting out the framework for developing health services in Scotland for the next 10-20 years, including people living with arthritis.

The Scottish Government remains fully committed to a sustainable NHS and its workforce, which continues to deliver a consistently high quality healthcare service to the people of Scotland. That is why we have seen staffing levels in our NHS increase by over 12,000 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) to an all-time high of 139,262.0 WTE.

Our Health and Social Care Delivery Plan published in December 2016 sets out our aim for Scotland to provide high quality services with a focus on prevention, early intervention and supported self-management. The plan sits alongside our National Clinical Strategy, which evidenced the need to change the way services are delivered in order to continue meet the healthcare needs of our population, setting out the framework for developing health services in Scotland for the next 10-20 years, including people living with arthritis

Scottish Government has been working closely with clinicians as part of the Scottish Society of Rheumatology to assist them with an improvement programme for people who have arthritis. The Scottish Government has provided funding of £22,000 over three years to two Boards to enable them to carry out three improvement projects.

National Procurement leads on the procurement of medicines on behalf of NHS Scotland. The procurement approach is being kept under active review to ensure that it continues to deliver best value as NHS Scotland works towards eliminating hepatitis C as a public health concern by 2030.

A significant market change later this year will be the entry of an additional pan-genotypic regimen; this is expected to increase competition in the market and lead to reductions in the pricing of Hepatitis C therapies. The expectation is that there will be another review of the treatment guidelines in autumn 2017. National Procurement will be re-tendering for the supply of hepatitis C medicines at the same time.

A reduction in the pricing of hepatitis C therapies is expected to facilitate the earlier treatment of diagnosed patients thus contributing to the 2030 goal.