Chamber and committees

Our tax plans for 2018-19 were announced as part of the Budget and were formulated to protect and promote the level of public services the people of Scotland expect; to ensure the lowest earning taxpayers are protected and don’t see their taxes increase; to make the tax system more progressive and reduce inequality: and, together with our corresponding decisions on spending, to support the economy.

If the Scottish Government were to match the UK government plans for tax in devolved areas in 2018-19, this would result in a reduction in available public spending of £501 million, which is the equivalent of around 12,000 nurses.

Our cancer strategy, ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ and the accompanying £100 million investment over the coming years serves as a blueprint for the future of cancer services in Scotland, improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare for all people with cancer, including those with less survivable cancers.

Two of the overarching aims of the cancer strategy are for more people to survive cancer for 1, 5 and 10 years, and to close the gap in survival between Scotland and the best countries in Europe; and we are determined to make this happen.

Clinical nurse specialists make a valued contribution to delivering services and supporting patients and families who require specialist care. The Scottish Government has invested £2.5 million annually in the Specialist Nursing and Care Fund since 2015. The majority of this funding (£2.2m) has been transferred to NHS Boards' baseline funding.

As of May 2017, reports from NHS Boards show that specialist nursing capacity had been enhanced through the additional investment from the fund by 31.35 WTE and these roles are supporting and caring for patients and families affected by a wide range of conditions, across the life spectrum and across hospital and community settings.

In addition, and as part of the wider effort, the Scottish Government has fulfilled its pledge to double the number of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) clinical nurse specialists and ensure that they are paid from public funds.

A report of how NHS Boards used the additional funding (as at May 2017) can be found in the 'Report on the Specialist Nursing and Care Fund' published in September 2017 which can be accessed via this link http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/09/7753

NHS Lothian advise that since the publication of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Report in 2016, the Board has undertaken six rounds of consultant recruitment, which has resulted in six consultants being in post. The Board continue to advertise for consultants on a planned regular basis.

It has been confirmed by NHS Lothian that in 2017 it recruited for two International Medical Fellowship Trainees without success. The Board intends to recruit through this scheme in 2018. Given that no trainees were recruited in 2017, NHS Lothian intends to use a different approach which is to advertise for fellowship posts linked to academic departments within the Board.

To support the Children's Ward at St John's, NHS Lothian advise that it is committed to strengthening its Advanced Nurse Practioner (ANP) workforce, with two internal members of staff currently being trained to undertake this role within the Children’s Ward. These members of staff are scheduled to be fully qualified during the winter of 2018. The Board's intention is to run an advertising campaign in 2018 for qualified ANPs whilst continuing to offer staff internally the opportunity to train as ANPs. These posts would support the Children's Ward at St John's Hospital.

NHS Lothian have taken a number of steps over the years to maintain and control parking to ensure that available spaces at St John's are used by legitimate users (patients, visitors and staff) while deterring the use of the car park by non hospital users, but there is a balance between deterring non-hospital users and creating unnecessary congestion. In the longer term, the Board, as part of a possible expansion of clinical services at the site, will look at additional car parking options and any schemes brought forward by them will be considered by the Scottish Government.

Civil servants abide by the Civil Service Code, which expects them to act with integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. In particular, civil servants are asked to set out relevant issues truthfully, and must not mislead Ministers or be influenced by improper pressures. Civil servants must provide information and advice on the basis of evidence, and accurately present opinions and facts.

The Civil Service Code can be viewed here: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/civil-service-code/

Any Minister who has concerns about advice given by Scottish Government officials should raise the issue with the relevant senior official at the time the advice is offered.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the structured diabetes education offered by individual NHS Boards. NHS Boards are responsible for delivering structured education tailored to suit local circumstances.

The Scottish Diabetes Survey includes the "Percentage of people with diabetes who have ever attended Level 3 structured education - presented in defined age ranges".

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) evaluated the evidence relating to its effectiveness in helping to prevent other serious diabetes-related conditions prior to its inclusion in their national clinical guidance on diabetes, SIGN 116.

In Scotland, the Diabetes Education Advisory Group provides support to NHS Boards, for example, accreditation of local courses to ensure a consistent high standard.

NHS Lothian are in the process of developing a business case for a world-leading cancer centre in NHS Lothian and work is on-going. A decision on the funding will be taken when the business case is submitted to the Scottish Government for review. The target date of completion remains 2025, but will be updated once we receive more detailed plans from NHS Lothian.

While that major project is underway, NHS Lothian have taken the interim step of creating plans to enhance the current accommodation. This will allow their clinicians to continue to provide expert care for patients in the same building until they are able to move into a new facility. A significant amount of work has already been undertaken and the Scottish Government is planning on allocating additional funding to support these plans; the exact amount of support will be confirmed as the plan is developed but it is expected to be in the range of £15 million.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of providing high quality cancer services for the Edinburgh Cancer Centre at the Western General Hospital and are supportive of NHS Lothian’s plans to develop a business case.

A decision on the funding will be made following review of the business case and it would not be appropriate to make any decision before that review is complete. However the Scottish Government have agreed to support the necessary investment on interim bridging capital in the current building which will improve current service provision while the business case is being developed.

The Scottish Government last met with Universities Scotland on 19 December 2017, when officials met with them to discuss the impact of Brexit on the Scottish Higher Education Sector, including EU students.