Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government welcomes the research which was supported though the Scottish Government funded Detect Cancer Early programme partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust and we applaud the work that the charity does in raising awareness of the importance of early detection of cancer. The Scottish Government has worked with a number of partners and charities on previous and ongoing awareness raising campaigns which aim to educate young people and adults about the risk and harms of sun exposure and sunbed use. This includes the ‘R UV Ugly?’ campaign run in partnership with Cancer Research UK. The Scottish Government is also working with the Teenage Cancer Trust, schools, NHS and other cancer charities to develop a sun awareness education programme to be used in schools or other youth group settings. Key messages on sun safety will be delivered with the emphasis on the point that young people can and do get skin cancer but it can be prevented.

In addition, Scotland has led the way in the UK by being the first country to introduce legislation for sunbed use. This prohibits under-18s from using sunbeds and requires sunbed operators to provide customers with health information on the health risks associated with sunbed use.

In relation to further research, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is a major funder of clinical research in Scotland, including research into the causes and treatment of cancer. Scottish-based researchers can apply for funding to the CSO’s Experimental and Translational Research Committee, and its Health Services and Population Health Research Committee. The CSO will contact the lead author of the current study to discuss the findings and to ensure that he is aware of the funding opportunities referred to above.

The Scottish Government has just recently received a copy of The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland. The report and the recommendations within it will be considered as part of our refresh of our youth employment strategy.

The Scottish Government has just recently received a copy of The Employment Journey: A Fresh Perspective to Employment in Scotland. The report and the recommendations within it will be considered as part of our refresh of our youth employment strategy.

The Scottish Government is investing £40 million in the new Fastlink scheme which will see, for the first time, direct transport from three main sites in the city centre (Buchanan Bus Station, Queen Street and Central Station) to the South Glasgow University Hospital campus. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are also investing a further £5.2 million as part of a detailed travel plan, which will improve accessibility to the new South Glasgow University Hospital campus. Improved public transport routes, traffic controls in the surrounding area and upgrading works to the local road network are all being implemented.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises that public transport connections are crucial and that is why it is working closely with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to ensure that investment is targeted at communities where there is currently poorer public transport links. As well as the new Fastlink service, the board recognises that a bus service is key to improving access to the site from South Glasgow and East Renfrewshire and intends to commission a new version of an existing bus service to continue directly into the site when the new hospital opens.

We share the ambitions of the report from the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce. That is why we responded quickly to the final report of the commission in June 2014, and have allocated £5 million of a £12 million budget in 2014-15 for early action:

£1 million to support the establishment of new regional employer partnerships;

£3 million for a skills package including pilots of foundation apprenticeships, allowing young people to start training while still at school; pilots of advanced apprenticeships in key skills sectors; developing our careers service; addressing gender segregation; and assisting young disabled people and minority groups with training and employment programmes;

£0.5 million to enable Education Scotland to bring a sharper focus on supporting young people towards work; and £0.5 million as part of a new £1 million government fund for establishing Investors in Young People accolade for business.

Our 2015-16 draft Budget includes a further £16.6 million for Young Workforce implementation, building on our work to create a world class vocational education system, for example, the programme has already engaged around 800 primary head teachers through national events. Most recently, on 9 November 2014, we announced that Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV, will chair our National Invest in Young People Group.

All this illustrates our close working with delivery partners, particularly local government, and employers, and that we are making good progress. We will publish a full implementation plan in the context of a refreshed youth employment strategy by the end of the year.

The Scottish Police Authority has a permanent corporate structure in place which covers a number of areas including provision of legal services. The employment of staff is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority.

It is for the Scottish Police Authority to decide on how the funding it receives from the Scottish Government is to be used within the terms set out in the agreed strategic plan, the Governance and Accountability Framework, the Scottish Public Finance Manual, and any relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Police Authority receives funding from the Scottish Government to enable the effective delivery of the statutory policing principles and functions set out in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.

In doing so, it is for the Scottish Police Authority to decide how the funding is to be used within the terms set out in the agreed strategic plan, the Governance and Accountability Framework, the Scottish Public Finance Manual, and any relevant guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers.

There are a number of ways in which midwives gain knowledge and training in bereavement care. There is considerable input on this topic in the pre-registration midwifery programmes at all three higher education institutions in Scotland.

Post-registration, there are a number of approaches to continuing professional development and education in this area open to all midwives, including a range of interactive workbooks, a suite of e-learning resources provided by The Scottish Grief and Bereavement Hub and regular conferences and specialist training by the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society.

The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to ensure an appropriate supply of registered midwives to meet future workforce requirements and to ensure a sustainable model of pre-registration and post-registration midwifery education provision.

The pre-registration midwifery programme provision across all Scottish universities is reviewed annually as part of the intake modelling, funding and performance management processes. This has allowed ongoing review of programme delivery, recruitment, progression and completion on all programmes.

To support the transition process, Scottish Government provided funding to all three remaining midwifery schools.

Reviewing the impact, NHS Education for Scotland annual data demonstrates a strong and sustained pattern of recruitment, progression and completion at the three remaining providers and an appropriate level of support to any students remaining on programmes at the three other institutions.