Chamber and committees

Drug death statistics are produced by National Records of Scotland (NRS). Towards the end of 2017 NRS published a user consultation on the timing of Vital Events statistics. The consultation was published on the NRS website consultation page https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/user-consultations-groups-and-seminars/consultations

Users who had registered an interest in population or health statistics on the ScotStat register http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/scotstat received an email alerting them to the consultation. Various user groups were also told about the consultation and encouraged to respond, such as the Population and Migration Statistics user group and the Scottish Public Health Observatory Steering Group. Key users within the Scottish Government and the NHS were also alerted.

The consultation ended on 7 December 2017 and an analysis of responses (which included the new publication timetable) was subsequently published on the NRS website – https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/consultations/user-consultation-on-timing-vital-events-stats.pdf The new publication date has also been listed on the Future Publications page of the NRS website - https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/future-publications

Ministers were informed of this change but are not required to agree such changes. These are National Statistics and the UK Statistics Authority Code of Practice for Statistics ( https://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/code-of-practice/the-code/ ) states that the Chief Statistician/Head of Profession for Statistics should have sole authority for deciding on the timing of the release of regular statistics.

The provision of local services is a matter for operators and local authorities. The Scottish Government itself does not have the power to intervene directly in commercial or supported bus services but continues to encourage operators and local authorities to engage and work together to provide a suitable and sustainable level of service which is appropriate for local needs.

The Scottish Government introduced changes to bus registration legislation in 2016 to allow a longer period for consultation between operators and local authorities when proposing to introduce new services or change or withdraw existing ones.

These changes were designed to create time for more detailed discussion between bus operators and the relevant authorities without lengthening the overall process, offering both parties the opportunity to work collaboratively in their own interests and those of bus users. Where services are changed in ways which create gaps in socially necessary provision, it is open to local authorities to support services to fill those gaps.

The Scottish Government has also introduced a Transport Bill to Parliament which will provide local authorities with a range of options to meet local needs and circumstances, including partnership working with operators, local franchising, or running their own buses in certain circumstances.

Over the last 10 years, 74 people have been prosecuted for fraud:

Over the last 10 years, NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS) have submitted 91 reports of fraud to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS):

In January 2008, the Scottish Government published its strategy “Strategy to Counter NHS Fraud in Scotland”. In June 2015, the Scottish Government also published its strategy “Protecting Public Resources in Scotland – A Strategic Approach to Fighting Fraud and Error” which complements and supports the 2008 NHS strategy document. These strategies are available online:

https://cfs.scot.nhs.uk/media/3631/counter-fraud-strategy.pdf

http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00478742.pdf

Counter Fraud Services’ (CFS) role is to provide NHSScotland with a comprehensive counter fraud service through the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud, embezzlement, theft, corruption and other irregularities against NHSScotland. CFS work in partnership with NHS Scotland to support and improve services, ensuring that money is deployed for the public good, in the effective delivery of frontline care, as the people of Scotland rightly expect.

NHSScotland has benefited by £64.0 million arising from the measures undertaken by CFS over the period April 2001- March 2018.

NHS Boards report identified losses due to fraud to the Scottish Government as part of the annual accounts process. For the 9-year period from financial year 2008-09, the value of fraud report by Health Boards in their annual returns was £4.1 million. Prior to financial year 2008-09, losses due to fraud were not reported separately to those due to theft arson and wilful damage

When a fraud against NHS Scotland is detected, then CFS and NHS Boards will take appropriate action, which can include prosecution, referral to regulatory/professional bodies, sanctions and dismissal.

Over the last 10 years, Counter Fraud Services (CFS) records show that 193 fraud cases that were investigated or considered for disciplinary action.

The document, which will be a combined drug and alcohol strategy, will be published in the summer of 2018.

The Scottish Government is clear that plagiarism is a serious academic offence, and must be investigated and dealt with properly wherever it arises, in our schools, colleges and universities.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority takes instances of plagiarism very seriously, and is responsible for ensuring the exam system operates effectively and fairly.

Universities and colleges, as autonomous institutions, have their own policies in place to identify plagiarism and apply appropriate disciplinary procedures. While universities are responsible for their own procedures and systems, with regards to Research misconduct, as part of the Outcome Agreement that the Scottish Funding Council has with each university, institutions are asked to evidence their commitment to the principles set out in the Universities UK Concordat on Research Integrity .

It is a matter for the Sustainable Growth Commission as to the assumptions it makes on economic growth in its report.

The Scottish Government will, however, be considering the report's recommendations on growth carefully to see what more can be done within our existing powers, while making the case for these powers to be extended.