Chamber and committees

While the UK Government has yet to commence its formal Brexit negotiations, a firm guarantee that long term or permanent access to Scottish waters will not be used as a “bargaining chip” in Brexit negotiations has repeatedly been sought by Scottish Ministers, both in writing and in face-to-face meetings with UK Ministers. No such guarantee has been provided. In view of the significance of this issue to Scotland, however, the Scottish Government will continue to seek assurances that the interests of Scottish industry and communities will not be sacrificed during Brexit negotiations to secure other interests elsewhere in the UK.

We know that the UK vote to leave the EU has created significant uncertainty within the agriculture sector and we need to ensure the continued protection of the rights of all workers employed in Scotland’s rural economy.

The Scottish Government’s paper 'Scotland's Place in Europe' sets out our view that full membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union is the best outcome not just for Scotland but for the whole of the UK. Remaining part of the single market means retaining freedom of movement - the two things are indivisible.

The First Minister has repeatedly called on the Prime Minister to stop using human beings as bargaining chips. These calls have also been heard in the Scottish Parliament, where members have expressed concern over the UK Government's failure to guarantee our fellow EU nationals' right to remain in the UK.

There have been discussions and exchanges with the UK Government on freedom of movement including those in the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiations which I attend alongside representatives of the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive. The Committee met most recently on the 19 of January 2017.

Unfortunately, despite our consistent representations to the UK Government on this issue, the Prime Minister still refuses to deliver this guarantee, despite having the power to do so.

The Scottish Government appreciates the importance of obtaining a guaranteed right to remain for EU nationals and we will continue to strongly support this.

NHS inform, Scotland's digital health and care information service provides reliable, quality assured information to the public across a range of channels including online, telephone (0800 22 44 88 8am-10pm), web-chat and social media. The website contains advice and self-help guides on a range of conditions and managing symptoms. Importantly, this includes advice on self-medication where this is appropriate and when to get help from your GP or NHS 24's 111 service. It also contains advice about medicines and their use as well as information on managing medication. Links to the relevant NHS inform web pages are provided below:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides

https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments

https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/keeping-well/how-to-manage-your-medication

An important community resource is the community pharmacist who is available to provide expert advice and support on prescription medicines and self-care treatments.

In addition, packaging regulations require that each medicine is accompanied by a Patient Information Leaflet which contains important information for the safe and effective use of the medicine. UK-wide legislation requires these to be made available to all patients and in all packs.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06209 on 25 January 2017. 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.

All registered pharmacies in Great Britain, whether operating online or in a traditional manner, are required to meet the standards for registered pharmacies at all times as prescribed by the pharmacy regulatory body. This includes the management of medicines and medical devices, and the way in which they are delivered safeguards the health, safety and wellbeing of patients and the public. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the pharmacy regulator for Great Britain and their premises standards can be found at:-

www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/Standards%20for%20registered%20pharmacies%20September%202012.pdf

However a pharmacy service is delivered, the legal principles and regulatory standards aimed at guaranteeing safe outcomes for patients and people who use pharmacy services must still be met. The sale and supply of Pharmacy (P) medicines and Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) must only happen at or from a registered pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist, even when the sale or supply is made online. The GPhC has published guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services online:-

www.pharmacyregulation.org/sites/default/files/guidance_for_registered_pharmacies_on_distance_and_internet_services_.pdf

Registered pharmacies selling and supplying medicines online must also display the EU Common logo that is administered by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The Scottish Government has noted the recommendations made by Professor Galloway, which are broadly in line with the overall approach to managing AMR. It is important to note the distinction between those on-line pharmacies which are acting legally and those which are not by selling antibiotics without a prescription. Where a website is operating illegally the MHRA is the lead agency which works to shut these down. The EU Common Logo is designed to help people identify genuine sellers of medicines online:-

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-mandatory-logo-for-selling-medicines-online

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reducing healthcare associated infections remain key priorities for Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government is working closely with key partners such as the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) and National Services Scotland (NSS) to reduce inappropriate prescribing and ensure that antibiotic use follows national and local evidence-based policies to combat the emergence of resistant organisms.

SAPG has developed education resources to support NHS Board Antimicrobial Management Teams in delivery of training on antimicrobial stewardship as well as self-directed learning for healthcare professionals. SAPG has also developed initiatives to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing working with clinicians in hospitals and primary care settings to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics for self-limiting infections, reduce the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, and ensure hospital antibiotic treatments are reviewed and stopped as soon as clinically appropriate.

SAPG has engaged with undergraduate medical, nursing and pharmacy training providers across Scotland to support inclusion of antimicrobial stewardship in all curricula. SAPG is also currently working with the National Prescribing Safety Assessment organisation to develop additional questions on management of infection and antimicrobial use for the UK-wide exam that all final year medical students and independent prescribing course participants must sit to demonstrate competence in prescribing.

In terms education for patients and the public, NHS Scotland has participated in activities for European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) held on 18 November since 2010 to increase awareness about appropriate antibiotic use and the threat from antimicrobial resistance amongst patients, the public and healthcare professionals. SAPG has worked with Public Health England and the other devolved nations to deliver a major public health campaign for the past 3 years, promoting Antibiotic Guardian aimed at patients, the public and health and care staff including targeted information for healthcare students and parents with young children.

The Scottish Government has supported this public health initiative and provided funding for SAPG to organise the printing and distribution of posters and leaflets to all health boards, community healthcare providers (GPs, dentists and community pharmacies) and care homes for older people. In 2015 and 2016 this has also included promotion of the Antibiotic Guardian pledge campaign in all community pharmacies in Scotland during the month preceding EAAD in collaboration with Community Pharmacy Scotland.

In October Scottish Ministers wrote to the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to reiterate that the Scottish Government should be formally consulted on all applications for Oil Transfer Licences in Scottish Waters. In addition Scottish Ministers have written to the Secretary of State for Transport requesting devolution of the responsibility for ship to ship oil transfer licensing. As a result of this correspondence, an initial meeting between officials of Marine Scotland and MCA took place on 13 December 2016 to discuss how the Scottish Government should be consulted on a revised Cromarty Firth application.

The Scottish Government’s consistently supportive approach to renewable energy has been a key factor in maintaining investor confidence and enabling the growth of the sector. This support is provided in a variety of ways, including ambitious renewable energy targets; funding to support renewable energy projects and technology development; a planning policy which strikes a careful balance between utilising Scotland's significant renewable energy resources whilst protecting our finest scenic landscapes, natural heritage and residential amenity; and a well-developed structure of partnership with the Scottish agencies, the private sector and academia.

The impact of this support can be seen in a number of ways. For example, provisional figures show that 56.7% of gross electricity consumption came from renewable sources in Scotland in 2015, and we reached our 2020 target for community and locally owned renewables five years early.

Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland, nowhere more so than in the Highlands and Islands where, for example, the development of the £2.6 billion Beatrice Offshore Wind farm by SSE and its partners will bring huge benefit to the Moray Firth and beyond. The project is expected to bring a total of £6 million in Community Benefits and secure around 100 direct and indirect jobs as well as associated supply chain opportunities.

Finally, in January the Scottish Government will publish a new Climate Change Plan, which together with our new Energy Strategy and forthcoming Climate Change Bill, will set out an ambitious long-term framework for a truly integrated approach to delivering Scotland’s future energy system and reaffirm our commitment to supplying clean energy from renewable sources.