Chamber and committees

Since 2011 the Scottish Government has invested more than £15.8m directly to NHS Boards for implementation of the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework, of which breastfeeding support is a key component. We have also continued to invest in a National expert post to support the implementation of the Framework. The current post holder is assisting Boards to offer the highest standard of support for all breastfeeding mothers.

In addition, we directly fund a Scottish UNICEF post and the first stage UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation. Scotland was the first country in the UK to have 100% of its maternity units meeting the UNICEF Baby Friendly best practice standards. Over 90% of our Health and Social Care Partnerships and the largest Scottish Neonatal units now have full accreditation.

We use national statistics, reported in October each year, using routine data captured through the Child Health Surveillance System (CHSP) to monitor breastfeeding activity across Scotland.

Yes, as long as the parents have chosen it and it relates to their outcomes.

Information on the number of people normally resident in Northern Ireland accessing family planning services in Scotland is not collated centrally.

There is no building or planning legislation regulating the distance that a public lamppost can be from a private dwelling.

Local roads authorities have a statutory duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (the 1984 Act) to provide and maintain lighting for roads which are maintained by them.

The 1984 Act does not stipulate any minimum distances from private dwellings. It provides that lighting may be attached to rails, walls or buildings fronting or abutting the road, provided 28 days’ notice is given to the owner or occupier of any affected land.

Under the terms of Class 29 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, development authorised by an Act of Parliament or the Scottish Parliament is deemed to have planning permission, and so no planning application is required regarding the location of street lighting.

It would be for the relevant roads authority to consider the location of any street lighting, taking into account the impact on local residents, while ensuring that they comply with their statutory obligations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on‎ 10 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on ‎10 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Apologies for the delay in responding. I have responded to all seven questions within this response.

The Scottish Government recognises that performance against the four hour A&E target at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is unacceptable - long delays are not acceptable when not clinically justified. In addition to winter pressures over the last few months, the hospital has and continues to experience unacceptable levels of delayed discharges, which significantly impacts on performance. NHS Lothian has the highest rate of delayed discharges of any mainland health board in Scotland, with Edinburgh City alone having one of the highest rates.

I have made clear to the Board and Integration Authorities that action needs to be taking to avoid on-going delays for patients anywhere in the health system and we are liaising with the Board and partnerships on a regular basis to address this. The Partnership has also recently appointed a new Chief Officer and Deputy so I expect to see improvements soon.

To support improved waiting times for patients attending A&E the health board is putting in place a number of actions, including the redesign of the A&E department to develop a GP assessment unit and ambulatory care unit – the Board will also introduce an observation area for patients expected to stay no longer than eight hours. We will monitor progress against these actions very closely.

As you know, Professor Derek Bell has been carrying out a review of NHS Lothian's A&E departments on behalf of the Academy of Royal Colleges, this followed concerns around the misreporting of A&E statistics at St John's Hospital at the end of last year. Professor Bell has now completed his review and will now present his findings to NHS Lothian. Scottish Government will work closely with the Academy and NHS Lothian to prepare an action plan in response to the review. The review and the agreed action plan will be published in due course. There will be a robust implementation plan put in place, which will be supported by the Scottish Government and the review team, to ensure waiting times performance in the A&E departments improves on a sustainable basis. In terms of additional resources, including funding, this will be determined once the action plan has been agreed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on‎ 10 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on 10 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15737 on‎ 10 May 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .