Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07939 on 29 April 2022. 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 refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08283 on
‎ 17 May 2022. 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 resignation notice periods for civil servants in Scottish Government Core Directorates is as follows:

• Senior Civil Servants - 3 months, as set by the Civil Service Management Code
• Special Advisers - 5 weeks, as set by contract and stipulated by Cabinet Office
• Scottish Government delegated grades:
• Band C - 3 months
• All other staff - 1 month

The notice periods for delegated grades have been in place for many years, and pre-date the delegation of terms and conditions of employment to civil service employers.

Within Scottish Government Core Directorates no civil servants have a contractual notice period that is excess of 3 months following their resignation from employment and therefore no liability exists in that regard. The Civil Service Management Code, published by the UK Government, sets out the notice arrangements that we must give our employees in relation to the termination of their employment.

Decisions about the rates for reimbursement of travel costs for family members who wish to visit The State Hospital are for The State Hospitals Board for Scotland. The current policy was implemented in 2021 and is due to be reviewed in 2024, however it can be refreshed prior to that.

The ‘Supporting Visitor Travel Policy and Protocol’ includes policy on the partial reimbursement of overnight visit costs.

The total amount of publicly available electric vehicle charge points registered on the ChargePlace Scotland (CPS) network are as follows -

31 December 2019 = 1226

24 April 2022 (latest update) = 2244

The Scottish Government is committed to continuing its work on raising awareness of Lyme disease and ticks.

The public awareness sub-group, established following roundtable events in April and June 2021, includes a wide range of representatives, from organisations including Visit Scotland, the Lyme Resource Centre, and Ramblers Scotland. The group has met several times and has most recently developed key messages for the Community Pharmacy Public Health Messaging Poster Campaign which will run for a 4 week period from 30 May 2022.

In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to use its own platforms to highlight the need to be tick aware and to set out the signs and symptoms of possible infection.

The Group is considering further options for short- and long-term strategies to implement messaging around Lyme disease, including the use of appropriate signage for visitors to parks and other recreational areas, together with messaging for the wider public. All materials produced, or campaigns undertaken will be designed around the key messages of; identification, how to protect yourself, and safe removal of ticks, as well as signs and symptoms of possible Lyme disease infection and where to seek treatment.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08300 on 12 May 2022. 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 refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08300 on 12 May 2022. 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

Anyone, of any age, who displays signs or symptoms of breast cancer should report concerns to their GP. Should further investigation be required, which can include a lump in breast tissue, this would be referred through the symptomatic service, and not directed to the Scottish Breast Screening Programme. There are no plans to change this.

The UK National Screening Committee, an independent scientific body that advises all four UK nations on screening, currently recommends that women between the ages of 50 and 70 are invited for three yearly routine breast screening because there is clear evidence of benefit from screening women of that age group. The UK NSC does not recommend that women over 71 are invited for breast screening.

While programme capacity remains challenging due to COVID-19, there remains a pause on self-referrals for those over the age of 71 in order to allow appointments to be prioritised for the recommended screening population. However, in recognition of the anxiety that the pause on self-referrals is causing, work is underway with the National Screening Oversight and the Scottish Breast Screening Programme Board to explore ways to restart the self-referral route by Autumn 2022, in a way that does not unduly impact on screening of the eligible cohort, and with a number of factors being worked through.

We continue to emphasise that, regardless of their age, women should remain symptom aware and report any concerns to their GP immediately for these to be investigated and followed up as appropriate. The pause on the self-referral option has never altered this position.