Seòmar agus comataidhean

The HIV Transmission Elimination Proposal, led by Professor Rak Nandwani (the then co-chair of the Scottish Health Protection Network Strategic Leads) was published on 1 December 2022 and can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/ending-hiv-transmission-scotland-2030/

The Government published budget proposals in December. Subject to parliamentary approval, that will determine the levels and duration of funding available.

Until this is finalised officials are not in a position to publish the application form and eligibility guidance. A final decision should be made in the coming weeks.

Two pathfinder Climate Action Hubs were launched in September 2021 covering the Northeast of Scotland (NESCAN Hub) and the North Highlands, Orkney and Shetland (North Highlands and Islands Hub).

Both Hubs have provided a vehicle for communities to come together stimulating community level climate activity and supporting communities to adapt to our changing climate.

The Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN) is supporting the wider development of Climate Action Hubs. Funded by the Scottish Government they recruited 14 regional network coordinators in 2022 to bring communities together ensuring as inclusive an approach as possible. They are facilitating discussions on what is needed for each area, ensuring Hubs are shaped by and responsive to local need and build on existing support.

The Scottish Government is aware of this matter and has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including trade association Liquid Gas UK, on the sufficiency of gas volumes available in the sector, and with the upstream partner choosing to reduce LPG supply via Mossmorran to better understand their commercial decision.

Security of energy supply, including LPG, is a UK Government reserved matter and Scottish Government officials are in contact with counterparts at the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to confirm that quantities of gas being processed are more than sufficient to meet demand – and that BEIS continue to monitor the picture closely in communication with suppliers to ensure there remains adequate availability of LPG for distributors in Scotland.

Further, I have written to the Secretary of State for BEIS to outline members’ concerns raised with me, and to seek UK Government’s express reassurance on Scottish LPG supplies for 2023 and beyond. I have also requested clarity on the UK Government’s plans to extend existing levels of support through the Energy Price Guarantee to help struggling rural households with rising energy costs, asking the Secretary of State to urgently confirm whether the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help households who use alternative fuels such as LPG will be repeated during 2023-24.

The Scottish Government are currently working with a steering group comprised of key stakeholders from across the sector to develop an updated Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) Framework. It is anticipated that the Framework will be published in Spring this year.

This information is not available in the form requested.

The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) explores the physical condition of Scotland’s homes as well as the experiences of householders. Data from the (SHCS) provides estimates of the number and percentage of households using LPG (bulk or bottled) as a primary heating fuel, based on a single year of data, and at a local authority level by averaging three years’ of data. The survey has not been designed to provide results by Parliamentary Region. The most recent data for 2017-19 by local authority is presented in the following table.

It should be noted that at a Scotland level over the period 2017 to 2019, 1% or 25,000 of households were estimated to use LPG as a primary heating fuel in their homes. Given this low prevalence, precise actual estimates from survey results are not available for Fife and other Local Authority areas.

It should also be noted that some households may use LPG as a secondary heating fuel, alongside other fuels. This is not included in the table below.

Table 1: Number and percentage of households using LPG (bulk or bottled) as a primary heating fuel, by local authority, SHCS 2017 to 2019

Work is currently underway in the Scottish Public Health Workforce Development Group to assess needs and agree priority actions in relation to the public health workforce. Three additional Public Health training places for trainee doctors have been created in recent years following recommendations made by the Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group. While this may seem like a modest increase, it is relative to the specialty’s training establishment i.e. there were 35 established training places prior to the creation of those three extra posts. This will continue to be reviewed as part of public health workforce planning.

Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring that people with mental health issues have access to independent advocacy. We recognise that advocacy is central to empowering people with mental health issues to have their voices heard and participate fully in decisions about their care.

Under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act, people with a mental illness have a right to independent advocacy.

We have provided funding of £500,000 per year to NHS Boards and £177,000 to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA), and will continue funding to ensure people are supported to understand their choices and make their own decisions. The SIAA is a membership organisation which is responsible for promoting, supporting and defending independent advocacy in Scotland.

We also provide funding for third sector organisations who ensure collective advocacy for those with lived experience of mental health issues. This includes £188,000 this year to Vox Scotland who represent the voices of those with lived mental health experience to Scotland’s politicians and health professionals.

The Scottish Mental Health Law Review published its final report at the end of September 2022 and set out proposals for reform, including recommendations relating to the future provision and funding of independent advocacy services.

Cross-government work is now underway to assess these proposals and we will set out our response in due course.

The Women’s Health Plan includes a variety of short, medium and long-term actions. Since the publication of the Plan in August 2021, we have prioritised actions that we know will have an immediate impact on health inequalities. Our first report on progress will be published in early 2023, and will set out the progress made since the publication of the plan.

I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13514 on 16 January 2023 for an update on the development of a menopause and menstrual health workplace policy for NHS Scotland. 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 Scottish Government recognise the benefits of Scottish Racing to the economy and the positive impact it has on employment in communities across Scotland.

While we have not undertaken a direct assessment of the potential economic growth that the Scottish horse racing sector can contribute to the economy, we are aware of Scottish Racing’s 2018 Annual Review, which highlights that the sport generates £306 million to the Scottish economy as well as sustaining 3,400 FTE jobs.

Through our emergency sports funding package, we provided Scottish Racing with £2.265 million, recognising the value of sustaining and supporting Scotland’s racecourses.

The Scottish Government continue to engage with Scottish Racing and look forward to their 2022 Review and Prospectus, which will be published shortly with updated figures.

The Scottish Government does not hold information regarding the number of properties in the Highlands and Islands region that are currently yet to receive a broadband connection. Ofcom, as the regulator for communications services, produces an annual Connected Nations report, together with an interactive dashboard, showing a breakdown of coverage by nation, local authority and both Holyrood and Westminster constituency. This was last updated in December 2022 and can be accessed here: Interactive report - Ofcom .

We are also unable to provide a full target connection level in each of the next six years as we do not hold details of commercial coverage plans over that time period. However, provided below is a breakdown of the number of premises currently planned to be connected through the Scottish Government Reaching 100% (R100) North contract in the Highlands and Islands Region over the next 6 years.