Seòmar agus comataidhean

Last year I announced plans to hold a National Rail Conversation with the people of Scotland to seek their views on passenger rail services provided by Scotrail and the Caledonian Sleeper. The National Rail Conversation will also engage the views of regional transport partnerships, rail unions, local authorities, equalities groups, businesses, emergency services and rail industry organisations – as well as non-rail users – for their input in to the vision for rail services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s railway for the future. It needs to be affordable; accessible; sustainable; offer fair and secure employment, and provide a safe environment for all who travel and work across it, now and in the future. It is also an important component of our public transport system, offering an alternative to car use, and is key to cutting transport emissions, and achieving our Net Zero ambitions.

There will be two key areas of focus for the conversation:

1. A series of stakeholder meetings, hosted by the Scottish Government, to discuss all aspects of rail passenger services. These events will take place over the next few months and stakeholders will be contacted shortly.

2. An extensive public engagement campaign aimed at giving as many people as possible the chance to have their say on the future of rail. It’s important that we hear from as many people as possible, including those who currently do not travel by rail.

Further details of both of these strands will be provided when I formally launch the National Rail Conversation in April, marking the one year anniversary of ScotRail coming in to public ownership.

When ScotRail came into public ownership the Scottish Government was clear: this would be a new beginning for our railways with a new guiding vision. My resolve remains on creating real opportunities to deliver a railway run for the benefit of its customers, staff and stakeholders. Through the National Rail Conversation, we will listen to feedback from passengers and stakeholders and shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland.

This information is not held centrally. Local authorities and integrated health and social care partnerships are responsible for commissioning services for people within their area.

NHS Lothian has made significant progress with regards to the BAA recommendations, they have provided sufficient assurance through evidence of significant progress against the plan, improved governance and culture, and sustainable changes that NHS Lothian will be de-escalated to Stage 2 in the first instance with continued support and monitoring from SG.

We know that poverty is a key driver of poor mental health, and that those already struggling with poor mental health and money worries are likely to be amongst the hardest hit.

It is vital, therefore, that people can access the right practical advice and support to help them cope with the cost of living crisis and that this is accessible to everyone who needs it, in a range of formats.

Officials routinely engage with individual NHS Boards, providing a platform for Boards to openly discuss any particular pressures they are seeing with government. These meetings include discussion around the impact the cost of living is having on systems, referral rates and severity of presentations. This helps inform government policy around this issue, and is routinely escalated to Ministers. We also provide Boards with access to professional advice to manage any impacts the cost of living crisis has on services.

We have invested £36 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 through our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults which seeks to address the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic and the cost crisis. The Fund aims to build and develop capacity within community organisations and grass roots groups to support the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and has a particular focus on supporting at-risk groups including people facing socio-economic disadvantage. A range of community projects have been funded in 2021-22 which provide financial support and advice which can help provide a response to the cost crisis affecting communities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has also launched a dedicated Cost of Living portal, signposting to helpful information across a range of subjects including energy and bills; debt and money; children and families; and health and wellbeing. Cost of living crisis - Cost of Living Support Scotland (campaign.gov.scot) .

Scottish Government and COSLA will shortly set out a Data Strategy for Health and Social Care, which will articulate the first set of principles and deliverables needed to improve the access and use of data.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14415 on 9 February 2023. 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-14415 on 9 February 2023. 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

There are three types of tribunals which operate in Scotland. Scottish tribunals which deal with devolved issues and have specific jurisdiction in Scotland (such as the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland) and tribunals which deal with reserved issues but have specific Scottish jurisdiction and structures (such as the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for Scotland), these are administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service. Other tribunals exist which deal with reserved issues and have Great Britain wide structures administered by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (such as the Employment Tribunal). The Scottish Government can only comment on those administered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service.

As at 1 February 2023, the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service administer the Scottish Tribunals (consisting of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and the Upper Tribunal for Scotland), the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for Scotland. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland is split into six Chambers.

The respective funding, staffing and year established for each of these tribunals is listed in the following table.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14393 on 9 February 2023. 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

There are no plans to purchase artwork in 2023.