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The Scottish Government routinely publishes information in arrears about all Ministerial engagements. The most recent data can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts-october-2018/ .

Since 2016 our Operating Company, Scotland TranServ, has received 802 complaints about the A76.

This information is not centrally held as most GP are independent contractors who were not previously obliged to share it with the Scottish Government. The new GP contract, which came into force on 1 April 2018, allows us to gather this data subject to agreement with the BMA. The Scottish Government is in the process of finalising an agreement that will allow effective national workforce planning.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland and are working to further increase the current numbers by at least 800 in the next 10 years. Our workforce planning takes account of the information available on those interested in re-entering or retiring from the profession and we support a number of initiatives to retain GPs who are considering leaving the profession, including support for GP appraisals, mentoring, and coaching as well as a new Stay in Practice Scheme.

In 2017-18, there were 6,595 finished admission episodes for patients resident in Scotland who received healthcare from the NHS in England.

Data for 2018-19 will be published by NHS Digital in England around September 2019.

A patient living in Scotland could be treated in England for a number of reasons such as they may have fallen ill whilst working in or visiting England or they may have been referred by their health board, for example if at a UK level the treatment is only available in England.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills last met the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland on 20 November 2018. They discussed incorporation of the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law.

The Scottish Government has met, and will continue to meet, regularly with local authorities to discuss the delivery of the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) entitlement. This includes routes such as sharing information through the ELC Partnership Forum, and the expansion specific group on the Knowledge Hub.

Scottish Government officials have been in contact with Dumfries and Galloway Council following the recent ELC Partnership Forum which took place in Lockerbie. Some providers attending expressed concerns about the involvement of funded providers in the expansion of 1140 hours in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Council have since engaged constructively with funded providers and are putting in place arrangements to enhance meaningful and genuine partnership working going forward. The Scottish Government welcomes this shared commitment towards achieving the 1140 hours expansion for Dumfries and Galloway’s children.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people through the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism.

Autism assessments are a matter for Integration Authorities (IAs) and Health and Social Care Partnerships. Waiting times vary across Scotland.

We absolutely understand the anxiety and frustration that waiting for a diagnosis causes for autistic people and their families – and we want every child, young person and adult to have access to the right services and support. That is why we are investing in a National Autism Implementation Team to support Health and Social Care Partnerships to consider best practice in the redesigning of autism diagnostic services.

We are engaging with local Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland about why it is so important for them to increase capacity for autism diagnostic services and for them to redesign services that are sustainable.

We also recognise the importance of support after diagnosis and that is why we are developing a national resource to provide consistent information and support to autistic people and their families following a diagnosis.

Transport investment has to be supported by robust evidence and that is why the Scottish Government is undertaking the South West Scotland Transport study. This study is considering the rationale for improvements to all modes of transport on key strategic corridors, including that served by the A75. The study is expected to be published this spring and will provide recommendations which identify transport interventions to be considered in more detail through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Until the outcomes from that review are available, it is not possible to set a date for improvements on particular roads.

According to our latest national school estate statistics, the number of pupils educated in poor or bad condition schools has decreased from 256,794 (37% of pupils) in April 2007 to 80,359 (12% of pupils) in April 2018.

The number of pupils educated in poor or bad suitability schools has decreased from 154,783 (23% of pupils) in April 2010 to 94,022 (14% of pupils) in April 2018.

We offer various types of help to communities to address this kind of situation. The Part 3A community right to buy provides a compulsory purchase power for communities to take ownership of land (and buildings) that are abandoned or neglected. The Scottish Land Fund provides financial support to communities who wish to take ownership of land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects – this does not need to be done through formal community right to buy routes.

We have established the Vacant and Derelict Land taskforce to consider ways to bring vacant and derelict land into productive use. A key approach of the taskforce will be to work with communities to help them identify land that can be used for purposes that will support local needs.

We also support local government in the delivery of locally-led regeneration projects including through our Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.