Seòmar agus comataidhean

We fully understand that women want mesh removal surgery undertaken by surgeons who enjoy their full confidence and a range of measures are now in place to ensure that this happens.

The Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service has been established in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC). This service assesses needs and where appropriate, and subject to shared decision making and informed consent, performs mesh removal surgery. The Service has undertaken a number of mesh removal surgeries since its designation, despite the impact of the pandemic on activity levels across the Health Service. To complement Scottish services women can also, if they so wish, request to be treated at one of the NHS England Specialist Centres.

In addition, and exceptionally, women now have the option to request to be referred on to one of two independent providers. A contract with Spire Healthcare, where Professor Hashim operates, was agreed earlier this year and arrangements for the first patients to travel to Bristol are underway. Furthermore, I am pleased to be able to announce today that a contract has been agreed with Gynaecologic and Reconstructive Surgery Ltd, Missouri, USA, where Dr Veronikis operates. NHS National Services Scotland will now work closely with NHS GGC and local Health Boards to facilitate the arrangements for those who wish to travel to the USA for mesh removal surgery.

It is expected that anyone seeking mesh removal from either Professor Hashim or Dr Veronikis first discuss this with their local clinicians within their own Health Board. If considered appropriate at that stage, and in line with a process agreed with the independent providers, they would then be referred to the Complex Pelvic Mesh Removal Service in NHS GGC for consideration by a full multi-disciplinary team (MDT). If it is agreed that surgery is appropriate, the patient can choose to be treated by the service already available in NHS Scotland or to be referred to a specialist NHS centre in England or to one of the independent providers. Each of these options will be available free of charge. I would encourage anyone who wishes referral to one of these services to make their wishes known to their clinical team, if they have not already done so.

The Scotland Reserve provides the Scottish Government with a limited facility to manage the smoothing of all types of spending, assist the management of tax volatility and manage the timing of expenditure between financial years. As the cap is not index linked it has remained at £700m since it was implemented in 2017. In real terms it becomes proportionately smaller each year.

Under the terms of the Fiscal Framework the Scottish Government is unable to overspend its budget in a financial year. It must therefore achieve a net underspend each year and these amounts are carried forward within the Scotland Reserve to be utilised in future years.

The balance within the Scotland Reserve following the 2021-22 Provisional Outturn exercise was £650 million . This amount, subject to any adjustments as part of the Final Outturn process, will be drawn down in full to support 2022-23 spending plans as outlined in the Budget. This means the Scotland Reserve balance will be reduced to nil, allowing for an underspend of up to £700m in 2022-23 to be recorded without breaching the Reserve.

Later in the financial year 2022-23 there will be greater certainty around the funding position and spending levels. Financial management will focus on ensuring the Scottish Government achieves a balanced budget without breaching the Scotland Reserve cap. This will take the following into account:

• Ensuring sufficient headroom is included in the Scotland Reserve for a net underspend still to be achieved following post year-end accounting and audit adjustments
  ‎
• Including any targeted carry forward balances to support future financial years. In the recently published Medium Term Financial Strategy there is an assumption of £279 million of funding from the Scotland Reserve being used to support 2023-24 which would be factored into the Scotland Reserve workings. This figure is subject to change as part of the 2023-24 budget as well as any in-year revisions as circumstances change.

This process will then be replicated in financial year 2023-24 with a full draw down of any carry forward amounts in the Scotland Reserve.

The Scottish Government welcomes the announcement that the former Dawnfresh site in Uddingston will continue to operate under new owners, Thistle Seafoods, and understands that the sale included the transfer of 40 employees. We strongly encourage the company to take forward its plans to develop and grow the business with Fair Work as a key driver for achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's national economic development agency, has engaged with Thistle Seafoods and is arranging a meeting with the company to understand its future plans for the business and will explore potential support, whilst outlining the expectations of businesses trading in Scotland including around Fair Work and Net Zero ambitions. In line with the Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Government will introduce a requirement on public sector grants recipients to pay at least the real Living Wage to all employees and to provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition.

It is important to note that while employment law remains reserved to the UK Government, we will use our Fair Work policy to promote fairer work practices across the labour market in Scotland.

No methane inhibiting feed additive products have yet been approved for use in Scotland but the Scottish Government has been receiving interest from the livestock industry about the potential of such products. In their report last year the Suckler Beef Climage Group noted the potential of such products in reducing overall methane emissions.

It is likely that such products will be authorised on a GB basis due to the applications for the authorisation of a regulated food or feed product or process in GB. As such Scottish Government officials are working with other GB administrations to consider the best approach to strengthening engagement with industry on this topic to understand the potential of such new technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The UK is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of avian influenza to date, which has affected commercial and backyard flocks of poultry and other captive birds, as well as wild birds, including our internationally important seabird colonies.

While maintaining high levels of biosecurity among domestic flocks helps protect against disease, addressing the disease among wild birds can pose significant challenges. The Scottish Government is taking the current situation very seriously and continues to work with a range of partner organisations to monitor and respond to the situation where action can be taken, recognising the importance of communication and coordination in preparedness and responses.

As part of the co-ordinated GB response to avian influenza, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government, carries out year-round surveillance, including testing of dead wild birds reported to Defra’s GB-wide national telephone helpline. This helps us capture information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that might be prevalent across Great Britain, as well as species affected.

Dedicated monitoring at key colonies can also assist in the response to the outbreak in wild birds, which is why we welcome the significant work by NatureScot, the National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and other partners to collect data on the number of dead wild birds located at key colonies, as well as monitoring apparent population changes.

Working with our partners, the Scottish Government will continue to review its response planning to current and future avian influenza outbreaks, based on the latest scientific advice and existing disease control measures. We will also be identifying with partner organisations whether anything else can be done to respond to the outbreak and improve the resilience of our internationally important seabird populations.

Infection Prevention control (IPC) measures remain important in care homes but with high levels of vaccination and new treatments, the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 has decreased and the protective measures in adult social care including care homes have reduced in response to this.

IPC measures to prevent spread and manage a range of infections are common practice in care homes and will remain of upmost importance during COVID-19 outbreaks, in the same way as they do for other infectious pathogens such as influenza outbreaks. Care home staff have worked incredibly hard to adopt IPC guidance throughout the pandemic.

We are currently reviewing the guidance on the extended use of face coverings by staff in adult social care including care homes. The review is in partnership with ARHAI Scotland, SG Clinicians and Public Health Scotland and is considering the risk of Covid-19 transmission, the current rates within the community and the impact of removing this final layer of protection could have on transmission to vulnerable people, and staffing resources, alongside the human rights and wider harms to individuals in receipt of care or support including individuals whom live in care homes. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by the end of July. As it has been throughout the pandemic, guidance will be updated in line with the results of the review.

COVID-19 Financial Support for Adult Social Care Providers has been in place since the outset of the pandemic and was intended as time-limited financial support as services navigated and responded to COVID-19.

In both 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Scottish Government provided additional funding for COVID-19 costs in full. In 2022-23, the Health and Social Care Portfolio is required to accommodate all further COVID-19 activity, including additional Test & Protect and Vaccinations costs, without any further UK Government consequentials.

Recognising that flexibility is still required for responding to pandemic pressures, we have committed to continuing elements of financial support beyond 30 June 2022, this includes: the Social Care Staff Support Fund until 30 September 2022; and financial support arrangements for testing and vaccinations until the 31 March 2023. In addition, the current local PPE Hub arrangements will continue until 30 September 2022.

The Scottish education system is set up in such a way that decision making is devolved to the most appropriate level, enabling local education authorities to make choices that meet their local circumstances and needs. It is for this reason that the Scottish Government does not prescribe the specific resources to be used in schools. Head teachers are empowered to make these decisions for themselves in liaison with their local authority.

As a result, it was Scottish Ministers' view that Scottish schools should be given the choice on whether their pupils should receive this book and have therefore advised UK Ministers that an ‘opt-in’ process for Scottish schools should be implemented. This is consistent with the approach being taken in Wales.

The current permitted development rights for agricultural and forestry private ways (sometimes referred to as hill tracks) are subject to a prior notification and approval process, through which the planning authority can require changes to the design, manner of construction and route of a proposed private way to minimise potentially harmful impacts, including on peatland. It is for the relevant planning authority to consider each prior notification application on its individual merits.

It is open to the planning authority to refuse prior approval if they consider such impacts cannot be satisfactorily mitigated. Furthermore, if the proposed development would require an environmental impact assessment, the permitted development rights do not apply.

The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of permitted development rights in Scotland. We have committed to consider the permitted development rights for private ways as part of the review programme and we will consult on proposals for change in due course.

The prior notification and approval process introduced in 2014 enables planning authorities to consider the impacts of agricultural and forestry private ways (sometimes referred to as hill tracks) on the environment and local amenity. Through this process, the planning authority can require changes to the design, manner of construction and route of a proposed private way to minimise potentially harmful impacts. It is for the relevant planning authority to consider each prior notification application on its individual merits.

It is open to the planning authority to refuse prior approval if they consider such impacts cannot be satisfactorily mitigated. Furthermore, if the proposed development would require an environmental impact assessment, the permitted development rights do not apply.

The Scottish Government is currently carrying out a review of permitted development rights in Scotland. We have committed to consider the permitted development rights for private ways as part of the review programme and we will consult on proposals for change in due course.

Scottish Ministers are currently considering the City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed designation of the Edinburgh Short-Term Let Control Area, in accordance with the relevant legislation and Planning Circular 1/2021. There is no statutory timescale for considering such proposals but a decision on the proposal will be made and published as soon as possible.