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The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the outcomes of further research to ensure that any decisions to make Evusheld ® available to patients in Scotland in the future are based on the best available evidence. The RAPID C-19 group is a collaborative UK-wide partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and others. To date, the RAPID C-19 group and the COVID-19 UK expert panel have both considered a full range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro (in the laboratory) analysis and observational studies and have advised that there is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the procurement and deployment of Evusheld ® .

The RAPID C-19 group is keeping this position under active review, including through monitoring any emerging data. Building on the work of the RAPID C-19 group, the SMC is exploring the potential for collaboration with NICE on a single technology assessment (STA) of tixagevimab–cilgavimab (Evusheld ® ) for the prevention of COVID-19. In order to gain further evidence, consideration is also being given to establishing a clinical trial as a route to answering outstanding questions on the link between in vitro tests and clinical outcomes for current and future variants, which is currently not known. The trial may also assist with evaluating the effectiveness and safety of a higher dose of 600mg, which is now being used in a number of countries, which have previously purchased Evusheld®, as this was not tested in the company’s randomised controlled trials.

I have recently written to the UK Government supporting the establishment of a clinical trial and stating my wish to see individuals in Scotland included.

Electricity policy, including regulation of Great Britain’s electricity networks, is an area reserved to the UK Government.

In order to meet our net zero targets both increased renewable generation and network investment will be required. We are working to expand our renewable generation capabilities through our continued support for renewable technologies.

The Scottish Government, however, does not have the power to ensure that sufficient network investment will be taken forward. We have repeatedly called on Ofgem and BEIS to ensure that network companies can invest to ready the network for the requirements of transitioning to net zero.

The Scottish Government has also invested over £65 million in ChargePlace Scotland, Scotland’s public charging network, which now has more than 2300 publicly available charge points meaning that, by population, Scotland has the most EV charge points outside of London and the most rapid charge points anywhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government is committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, and acknowledges that it has the potential to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening.

The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) recognises the potential benefits of self-sampling but have concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend implementation. Studies are underway to gather further evidence, but it is not yet known when the NSC may make a positive recommendation. Additionally, it is unclear when the work to assess and validate a test for HPV self-sampling in the UK will complete.

As introducing a new screening test into the National Screening Programme is inherently complex, a working group has been convened to assess potential models and understand any required changes to the screening programme to support an initial roll-out. This work is being informed by the emerging evidence from UK and global research, including the study undertaken in Dumfries and Galloway which provided self-sampling test kits to women between 25 and 64 who had not taken up the offer of attending for cervical screening. The results of this study showed the potential benefits of self-sampling, but also underlined the need to carefully consider how any eventual roll-out is targeted.

The time between a decision by a local authority on the location for a public electric vehicle charge point and that charge point then going into operation will be influenced by a number of factors outwith the remit or control of Scottish Ministers. This includes, for example, the location of the site and its accessibility, the ease of connection to the electricity grid, planning permission, environmental considerations, the approach to procurement as well as wayleaves and land rights. The Scottish Government continues to provide advice and support to local authorities to assist with these and other aspects of delivering of electric vehicle infrastructure projects.

Of the 750 additional NHS nurses, midwives and allied health professionals NHS boards collectively have told Scottish Government the number of international recruits they could accommodate, (a) up to 53 were indicated by NHS Ayrshire and Arran and (b) up to 217 by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The Scottish Government has not set a prescriptive list of “reasonable costs” for welcome arrangements.

Local Authorities are best placed to determine how best to provide support to the Ukrainian people in their areas arriving under the Scottish Super Sponsor Scheme and the Scottish Government is committed to reimbursing them as delivery partners for any reasonable costs incurred in providing that appropriate support.

The number of school inspectors employed by Education Scotland is as follows:

An estimate of the number of people with complex disabilities was published by the charity Sense in a short report in May 2022, which estimated that there were around 157,000 people in Scotland that could have complex disabilities, where complex disabilities were defined as a person having two or more of the following conditions: ‘deaf or hearing impairment’, ‘blind or vision impairment’, ‘learning disability’, ‘autism’. A link to the report is available here: https://www.sense.org.uk/about-us/statistics/complex-disabilities-in-scotland/

We expect all NHS Boards to have robust governance arrangements in place, including those for risk assessment and business continuity; as informed by, and consistent with, national policies and frameworks. NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that, as part of their routine winter planning work, they have been engaging with local planning partners to ensure all eventualities are carefully considered.

The information requested is not held centrally.