Chamber and committees

The Biodiversity Intactness Index is one of several indices devised to assess the current state of nature, with attribution to a range of drivers. The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, and the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. The index is predicated on the history of land use in each country, with the UK having a long history of deforestation and agricultural intensification which resulted in a lower score relative to other countries.

We have committed to introduce a new Environment Bill which will include targets for nature restoration that cover land and sea based on an overarching goal of preventing any further extinctions of wildlife and halting declines by 2030, and making significant progress in restoring Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.

In December 2020, we published our Statement of Intent on biodiversity, which sets out our ambitions for biodiversity and announces our new biodiversity strategy, which will be published in autumn 2022. We will continue to consider the best mix of targets and indicators to measure success as we develop our strategy and response to the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

The Self-directed Support (Direct Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 set out that people in receipt of a direct payment, Option 1 of Self-directed Support, may employ family members where this is deemed appropriate in certain prescribed circumstances.

The supporting Covid-19: Guidance on Self-directed Support Option 1 and Option 2 does not relax any of the existing safeguarding measures in place when considering a family member as a Personal Assistant (PA). The guidance has been developed to re-inforce the flexibility already in place under existing SDS Regulations.

Local authorities should consider requests to employ family members on a case by case basis, taking into account the family member’s health, their capacity to provide the required care, and other welfare and wellbeing factors.

The Biodiversity Intactness Index focuses on nature in the past, reflecting the many pressures in the past over which we now have no control. I am pleased to say that of the four UK nations, Scotland is highest in the list. However, our Statement of Intent on biodiversity published in December 2020 acknowledges that more needs to be done and sets out our ambition and our commitment to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

We have made a commitment to produce a new Scottish biodiversity strategy within a year of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of Parties (COP15), to be held in October 2021 in Kunming, China. A delivery plan will follow, to be developed in conjunction with NatureScot. These will set out our proposals for delivering the step change in our action to address biodiversity loss which is required.

Through the ground-breaking agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party, we have committed to introduce a new Environment Bill which will include targets for nature restoration that cover land and sea based on an overarching goal of preventing any further extinctions of wildlife and halting declines by 2030, and making significant progress in restoring Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.

The Statement of Intent has already made several other key announcements, including:

• an ambitious commitment to protect 30% of our land for nature by 2030 (this has now been further strengthened with a commitment for 10% of land to be highly protected).
• endorsement of the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2020.
• our work on National Planning Framework 4 will develop new proposals to secure positive effects for biodiversity through development.

We have made significant funding commitments to protect and restore biodiversity.

• We will invest at least £500 million in the natural economy over the course of this Parliament, including: £100 million to increase forestry planting, £30 million to expand Scotland’s national forests and land, and £20 million to increase nursery stocks.
• We have committed £250 million for peatland restoration over 10 years as part of our climate change plan.
• We have committed £214 million through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) since 2015.
• In July 2021 we launched the Nature Restoration Fund, which provides an additional £10 million capital funding for projects that will restore nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change. We have now committed to extending that Fund throughout this Parliament and allowing multiyear funding.
• The Nature Restoration Fund adds to almost £7 million already committed this year through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund.

The Government understands that those with long term health conditions such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis may also need support to deal with the impact this may have on their mental wellbeing.

GPs or local healthcare teams are best placed to offer further advice or treatment if needed and we’d advise people to contact their GP if they have concerns. Further information outlining this is available on our NHS Inform website at NHS Inform.

Improving timely access to local care and support for mental health is an existing priority. As of 1 January 2021, through action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27 and the Primary Care Improvement Fund, 193 additional Mental Health Worker posts have been created in GP settings.

We’ve also made a longer term commitment that by 2026, every GP Practice will have access to a mental health and wellbeing service, funding 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and offer social prescribing opportunities on a wide range of different community based services such as arts and cultural activities, green space and physical activity and leisure etc.

Later this year, and on the basis of local plans submitted by Integration Authorities, we will start providing funding to begin national implementation of a new model for Mental Health in Primary Care.

The number of Special Advisers as at 26 May 2021, broken down by pay band, is set out in the answer to S6W-00255 on 23 August 2021. One further Special Adviser was appointed on 27 September 2021 taking the current total to 16.

For the period 1999-2000 to 2002-03 the available data is:

We expect NHS Boards to ensure that people with osteoporosis, including those who may be awaiting a bone-density scan, have timely access to high-quality care as set out in the SIGN guideline Management of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.

On 25 August we launched our NHS Recovery Plan which is backed by more than £1bn of investment over the next five years. The plan sets out how we will invest more than £400m to create a network of 10 National Treatment Centres across Scotland, increasing capacity for planned elective procedures and diagnostic care. The plan takes forward our aim of increasing NHS capacity by at least 10% as quickly as possible in order to address the backlog of care and meet the ongoing healthcare needs for people across the country.

The ability to access public services offered online by local authorities and other public bodies is critical, and our experiences of the pandemic have highlighted the pressing need to close the digital divide.

Since May 2020 the Scottish Government has invested £48 million through the Connecting Scotland programme to provide a device, connectivity, as well as training and support to those on low incomes, allowing them to realise the full benefits of being online, including accessing local authority services.

Connecting Scotland is delivered in collaboration with key partners, including local authorities, COSLA, SCVO and third sector organisations.

The recently published report Connecting Scotland - A Year in View sets out the scale of the investment and the impact of the programme. So far, Connecting Scotland has brought 40,000 people online and is on the way to reaching 60,000 by the end of 2021. As set out in the Programme for Government, by the end of this Parliament, we will ensure Connecting Scotland has supported up to 300,000 households to get online, backed by £200 million of investment.

Details on the current estimated cost of each of the sections in preparation can be found in relevant scheme assessment reports published on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a96-dualling-inverness-to-aberdeen/ .

Delivery of any section of the programme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable and funding mechanism for progress can be set in line with available budgets.

We are not stepping away from our commitment to the north and north east of Scotland to improve A96 corridor. The current plan is to fully dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, however we have agreed to conduct a transparent, evidence-based review to include a climate compatibility assessment to assess direct and indirect impacts on the climate and the environment which will report by the end of 2022.

Delivery of any section of the programme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for progress can be set in line with available budgets.

The Scottish Government welcomes the Migraine Trust report as an important document setting out some of the difficulties faced by people living with migraine. At the start of this year the Modernising Patients Pathway Programme (MPPP) initiated a Headache Management Pathway. This process is well underway, focusing initially on migraine. This developing pathway addresses key areas outlined in the Migraine Trust report and has representation from pharmacy, general practice, emergency medicine and neurology. I understand that the migraine section is due to be completed by the end of 2021 and will review the Migraine Trust report as part of that process.

More widely, the Centre for Sustainable Delivery continues to support work on Active Clinical Referral Triage. This works aims to ensure that patients with neurological conditions who require appointments most urgently are seen as soon as possible, while those who may not benefit from a Consultant appointment are returned to the GP with advice and guidance. The Centre is also working to expand Discharge Patient Initiated Review, which aims to avoid unnecessary return appointments, again supporting access for those patient who need to be seen in a timely manner.

As indicated in the report, a majority of the responding NHS health boards have reported having a headache service. Within smaller health boards, this may be as part of a general neurology service, or a referral route to one of the tertiary services.

To support workforce capacity and planning, Scottish Government will publish a National Workforce Strategy by the end of this year, which supports the remobilisation, recovery and renewal of Health and Social Care Services. The Strategy will articulate a long-term health and social care workforce vision, alongside our priorities for workforce growth, recruitment, retention, training and development, and will build upon our ongoing work to support Boards’ workforce capacity.

Officials recently met with the Migraine Trust to discuss current issues regarding migraine care in Scotland and potential areas for future progress and partnership working, and the Scottish Government is happy to work further with stakeholders in raising awareness of Migraine Awareness Week going forward.