Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The allocation of spend is determined by territorial Health Boards. The Scottish Government’s role is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards to allow them to deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations.

The Scottish Government Modern Outpatient Programme recently invested £80,500 to update and improve nineteen national dermatological pathways in collaboration with Dermatology and Primary Care practitioners. Education events were held across Scotland to promote the pathways amongst clinicians. As a part of this funding, an app has been developed which allows clinicians to access the pathways easily and quickly from their smartphones or surgery computers.

The Government Car Service (GCS) operates 24 vehicles of which 6 are hybrid vehicles (3 are plug-in).

The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) provides transport for: members of the Scottish Cabinet and Ministers; Ministers of other UK Administrations when in Scotland; the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General; the Permanent Secretary; dignitaries and advisers, with the approval of Ministers.

The Scottish Government is committed to making sure that everyone living in Scotland is able to access the best possible care and support. The provision of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Boards.

It is for NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to work together to ensure that the best possible dermatology care is provided to individuals in their local areas.

We expect health care professionals to follow agreed local and national guidelines. In relation to dermatology, clinicians should deliver care in line with the dermatological conditions management pathways. As part of The Modern Outpatient Programme, the 19 pathways have recently been refined and revised by dermatology consultants and GPs from across Scotland. The pathways are available via Web based smart technology and are aimed at supporting GPs in the on-going management of these conditions.

Information on how many (a) consultant dermatologists are employed in each NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Staff_In_Post_J2017.xls

“Professional dermatologists” is not a recognised specialty. However, information on specialist doctors, including dermatology medical staff, is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/HCHS_by_specialty_J2017.xls

Information on (i) vacant consultant dermatology posts, broken down by NHSScotland Board is published by ISD Scotland and is available at the following web link:-

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2017-09-05/Consultant_Vacancies_J2017.xls

Information on (ii) the longest time each NHSScotland Board has taken to fill a vacancy in the last 12 months is not centrally held. Specific local information may be available from individual NHSScotland Boards.

In the Programme for Government published on 5 September 2017 the Scottish Government committed to extend the legislative presumption against short periods of imprisonment from 3 months to 12 months. Extending the presumption sends a clear signal that short sentences should only be imposed where no other alternatives are suitable, and is part of our wider commitment to shift the emphasis from ineffective short-term imprisonment to greater use of robust community sentences.

Ultimately, sentencing decisions should and do remain a matter for the courts. The presumption is not a ban, and courts retain the discretion to pass the most appropriate sentence based on the facts and circumstances of the case they are dealing with.

There are no current plans to introduce telephones in prisoners' cells in Scotland. The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service both recognise the importance of individuals maintaining family links during their time in custody, and continue to look at ways in which we can support and enhance this.

The methodology for rating valuation of licensed premises is for the Scottish Assessors, who are appointed by local government and operate independently.

In my statement responding to the Barclay review last week [Tuesday 12 September], I encouraged the sector and the Assessors to continue to work together to explore alternative methods of valuation.

Fuel poverty is significant to the work of NHS Scotland as it is both a health and health inequalities issue.

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum includes two representatives from NHS Scotland. One representing the Scottish Directors of Public Health and, the other representing the Health and Work Directorate, with a focus on health and work, low income and welfare benefits.

Membership of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum brings the opportunity for NHS Scotland to further develop the role and contribution of the NHS to tackling fuel poverty. Membership of the Forum also allows these members to provide a health-related perspective to future fuel poverty strategy development to ensure that we deliver better health outcomes to those who are in, or at risk of being in fuel poverty.

Health is well embedded within our current fuel poverty programmes as they are focused on vulnerable and low income households which tend to contain higher levels of elderly residents or those with a long term sickness and disability.

As part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP) we are also testing new ways of forging closer partnerships with local health and social care providers and organisations through our rural based HES Homecare pilot. These new and existing partnerships make reaching the most vulnerable people easier and more effective, particularly in remote and rural areas.

Later this year we will also consult on a new fuel poverty strategy which will seek views on how to strengthen relationships with local and national partners to deliver better health outcomes to those who are in, or at risk of being in fuel poverty.

Scottish Government Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to work in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland. I most recently met with the Leader and Chief Executive of the Council in Orkney on 23 August, when we discussed ferry services and other issues. Indeed Mr McArthur will recall that he and I also met during that visit.

The Scottish Government has set out a commitment to extend superfast broadband access to every premise in Scotland by 2021, which will primarily benefit consumers in rural areas. Our overall delivery approach is currently being finalised, and we will set out our plans in more detail in the coming weeks.

We expect that initial phases are likely to focus on more rural premises, rather than urban areas where we believe that commercial investment should play a more prominent role. We are also seeking to take account of emerging UK Government plans around a Universal Service Obligation, including the possibility of a voluntary deal between the UK Government and BT.