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I wrote to NHS National Services Scotland on 16 June 2023 to request that an evaluation of post COVID services (including long COVID clinics) in comparison to pathways in Scotland was added to the long COVID Strategic Network’s workplan for 2023-24. Consequently, the Strategic Network has contracted the University of Leeds to support the initial evaluation of long COVID services in Scotland.

The University of Leeds is currently the only institution in the UK evaluating long COVID services under the LOCOMOTION study, which includes NHS Highland as a pilot site. The University of Leeds also collaborates with ELAROS which has produced the C19-YRS digital tool which has been procured for use within NHS Scotland to monitor long COVID services. This partnership will also enable Scotland to benefit from the lessons already being learned from NHS England’s long COVID services.

As part of the evaluation, the University of Leeds will provide an: analysis of demand and capacity within Scotland’s long COVID services; analysis of longer-term outcomes for long COVID patients assessed within NHS Health Board services; and where possible, compare differences in service models.

As outlined in our response of 16 June 2023 to the COVID-19 Recovery Committee report on long COVID, I wrote to NHS National Services Scotland on 16 June 2023 to request implementation of a range of actions to support internal and external communication regarding activities being undertaken by the long COVID Strategic Network. NHS National Services Scotland has confirmed that these actions are in progress, and include the identification of an appropriate web solution to share priorities, key outputs, and meeting minutes.

The Scottish Government is represented on the Strategic Oversight Board of the long COVID Strategic Network. The Strategic Oversight Board provides oversight of the workplan and programme outcomes of the Strategic Network.

Children and young people learn about the negative impact of tobacco and vaping products on their health through the Health and Wellbeing curriculum. This includes understanding the laws around sales of tobacco products, and how to make positive choices in sometimes challenging situations. It is up to individual schools to decide what to study against the experiences and outcomes within the Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government wants to build on the success of no smoking education, and are reviewing vaping education for young people in schools with the Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing team to ensure that it provides the best impact.

We also recently distributed a survey via the National Parents Forum for Scotland to inform future education and marketing campaigns on youth vaping.

In addition, ASH Scotland have undertaken work with young people to help them understand the risks associated with using nicotine vaping products –resources can be found on the Young Scot website and social media channels.

The purchase of tobacco and vaping products is age restricted and they should not be sold to, or purchased for, anyone under the age of 18.

The Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced new laws on the sale of tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products (NVPs) which made it an offence to:

1. sell NVPs to people aged under 18

2. buy NVPs on behalf of people aged under 18 (proxy purchase)

3. allow a person under 18 to sell tobacco, cigarette papers or NVPs without authorisation

4. fail to operate an age verification policy at premises selling these products

5. carry on an NVP business without registration

Enforcement of legislation around the sale and purchase of nicotine vapour products (NVPs) is carried out by Local Authorities as part of the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP).

This is overseen by the Society for Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (SCOTSS) and funded by the Scottish Government. Officers are using every tool at their disposal - including test purchasing - to ensure retailers are not selling tobacco or vaping products to under 18s.

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

Last week, we published our 2023-24 Programme for Government, which outlined our commitment to take action on the impacts of single use vapes.

We will be consulting on measures to tackle the environmental impacts of single use vapes, including a proposal to ban their sale. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business.

In addition, our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

We published our consultation analysis in September 2022 and are considering next steps as a priority, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

The Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Programme for Government, published on 5 September 2023, outlined our commitment to take action to reduce vaping among non-smokers and young people and to tackle the environmental impact of single use vapes, including consulting on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures.

On 13 September, at the initiation of the Scottish Government, a meeting was held between ministers and senior officials from across the UK to discuss the available evidence and shared challenges, and agreement was reached to work together on a range of options to tackle the impacts, up to and including a ban.

Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation and developed in the spirit of the new deals recently agreed with local government and with business. Development of the consultation will also take place alongside careful consideration of the public health impacts and impacts on young people.

On 6 September, Scottish Government hosted a roundtable with a range of stakeholders to explore the findings of the Zero Waste Scotland report and discuss policy options to tackle the environmental impacts of single use vapes. The detailed findings of this engagement will inform our approach and further engagement and we will be working constructively with retailers, local government, young people and other stakeholders to develop and deliver solutions.

The Scottish Government revised the Code of Conduct for Property Factors in August 2021 to make it clearer, to drive up standards and to improve transparency and consistency. The changes ensured that the Code remains up to date and responds to concerns raised by homeowners.

There is evidence that the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 is working as intended. However, officials will be taking a wider look at the operation of the property factor sector to see what more can be done to promote an ongoing improvement in standards in line with the requirements currently set out in legislation.

The Scottish Government uses a robust process to support the development and updating of all national COVID-19 guidance. This includes the use of national clinical expertise and consideration of evidence and research.

In this instance, in April 2023 Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland reviewed the latest scientific evidence and updated on the epidemiology of COVID-19, producing an evidence paper. The evidence paper, which is inclusive of an options appraisal from ARHAI Scotland can be found In the Scottish Parliament Reference centre, bib number is 64523.

Due to the risk of patient identification, a point has been redacted within the paper. ARHAI’s recommendation, based on the scientific evidence, was to withdraw the extended use of face masks and face coverings guidance across health and social care settings.

Scottish Government Professional Clinical Advisors in Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC), the Professional Advisory Group for health and social care, the National Clinical Director, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, the Director for Primary Care and the Interim Director of Social Care Resilience were engaged and agreed that services should revert to the guidance on personal protective equipment, including the use of face masks, contained within the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual.