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My intention is to update Parliament with our Winter Resilience plans and publish our Winter Resilience Overview, covering both the NHS and Social Care, early next month, subject to discussions at Parliamentary Bureau. Caroline Lamb, CEO of NHS Scotland has also already written to NHS Boards and Integration Authorities regarding winter resilience plans at a national level and setting out clear expectations for local resilience and response.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the reasons why people are reportedly using private healthcare.

However, we recognise that addressing the effects of the pandemic has inevitably disrupted the NHS’s ability to carry out routine procedures, meaning longer waits for many patients. We are resuming services as quickly and as safely as possible, while patients who need urgent care, including cancer treatment, are being prioritised.

We recognise the impact long waiting times can have on patients. That is why we have introduced a new set of ambitious targets for NHS Scotland to address the backlog of planned care. Key targets are to eliminate:

• Two-year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of August 2022
• 18-month waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of December 2022
• One-year waits for outpatients in most specialities by the end of March 2023
• Two-year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2022
• 18-month waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2023
• One-year waits for inpatient / daycases in most specialities by the end of September 2024

We are working with NHS Boards to maximise capacity to meet these targets and have increased the flexibility Health Boards and clinicians have to manage waiting lists, with a focus on eliminating long waits, as well as continuing to treat the most clinically urgent patients.

The Scottish Government remain absolutely committed to keeping our NHS true to its founding principles – publicly-owned, publicly-operated, and free at the point of need.

Scottish Ministers remain fully committed to a health service that provides timely, quality care, is free at the point of contact and true to the founding principles of the NHS. The creation of a National Care Service will bring social care in to parity of esteem with healthcare and end the postcode lottery of care provision to ensure that everyone can get the care they need across the country.

Our publicly owned and operated NHS in Scotland makes very limited use of the independent sector for targeted services and to supplement capacity, where necessary. Over the last 10 years, use of the independent sector by NHS Scotland has consistently represented less than 1% of total frontline spend, with spend in 2020-21 being just 0.5% of the total frontline health budget. This compares to 6.8% and 0.8% for NHS England and NHS Wales, respectively. Further detail on spend with independent providers for NHS Scotland is available in Health Boards’ accounts which are published annually on each Health Board’s website.

Social Care services are commissioned by Local Authorities and the information requested would require to be requested from them.

Throughout the pandemic, NHS Boards have ensured that urgent, maternity and vital cancer services continue as usual.

Any arrangements for NHS patients to be treated at an Independent Sector hospital would need to be made between the patient and the NHS Board prior to the treatment being carried out.

The consequentials form part of the savings package of over £500 million set out to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on September 7 th . As stated in the letter, savings have been utilised to meet increased costs as a result of inflationary pressures, increase help for those hit hardest by the cost of living crisis and to fund enhanced pay settlements.

The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) is scheduled for completion and publication later this year.

Scottish Government officials have engaged with UK Government counterparts regarding the provision of support to consumers such as park home owners who are ineligible for the £400 Energy Bills Discount Scheme. Officials have provided details on the number and location of mobile home sites in Scotland to assist with identifying how best to distribute the funding.

On 8 September, the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to help mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers. This stated that those households who are not part of the regulated market, such as those living in park homes, are set to receive support through a new fund. The Scottish Government has asked for further detail and clarification, and have been advised that this will form part of the Chancellor’s fiscal statement later this month.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much it estimates it would cost to retrofit every street light to include an electric vehicle charging point. Costs will be influenced by a range of factors including the location of and type of lamppost, the electric vehicle charge point technology itself as well as any associated installation and civils works. Retrofitting would also need to factor in the variable on-going cost of operation and maintenance.

Paper £20 and £50 notes will be withdrawn from circulation on 30 September. This change will have an impact on individuals and businesses within Scotland.

The decision to withdraw these notes in Scotland coincides with the withdrawal of Bank of England £20 and £50 paper notes from circulation on the same date. In advance of 30 September deadline the Bank of England have issued multiple news releases to inform individuals and businesses that paper £20 and £50 notes will not be accepted beyond this date. This mirrors the approach of the previous decision to withdraw the legal tender status of paper £5 and £10 notes across the UK in 2018.

Additionally, a press release has been issued on 1 September by the Committee of Scottish Bankers on behalf of Bank of Scotland, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank to inform Scottish customers of the upcoming 30 th of September deadline.

It is important to note that 30 September is only the deadline for which paper £20 and £50 notes can be used to purchase goods and services in shops. Beyond this date paper notes can still be deposited into bank accounts at banks and post offices. Notes can also be exchanged for the corresponding polymer note at certain banks and post offices in Scotland, and Bank of England paper notes can be exchanged directly with the Bank of England via post.

The Cancer Strategy for Children and Young People in Scotland is set to run until 2026. This strategy is delivered by the Managed Service Network for children and young people with cancer (MSN CYPC). A progress update to the strategy will be developed by the MSN as part of its annual reporting cycle.