Chamber and committees

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for assessing the impacts of chemical pollutants on the water environment under River Basin Management Planning, which began in 2009.

Along with a wide range of other water quality parameters, the Scottish Government directs SEPA to assess the impacts of priority substances (chemicals which have been identified as a significant risk to water quality and wildlife) through its comprehensive monitoring programme of the water environment. Environmental quality standards, which protect the water environment and wildlife, are used by SEPA to assess any damage that chemical pollutants have caused in waterways and rivers.

I refer the member to the answer to S6W-03394 on 19 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
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I refer the member to the answer to S6W-03394 on 19 October 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The numbers of vacancies for GP posts are not held centrally, as this is a matter for individual independent GP contractors as employers.

We have a record number of GPs working in Scotland with more per 100,000 population than the rest of UK . We are committed to increasing the number of GPs by a further 800, supported by our wider commitment to increase Primary Care funding by 25% over the course of this parliament.

The trainee recruitment this year has so far been the most successful year of any of the last five, with 97% of GP training posts having been filled so far, with one recruitment round remaining.

We have also announced a commitment in the latest NHS Recovery Plan for £11m over 2021-2026, for new national and international recruitment campaigns and establishing a national Centre for Workforce Supply. The Centre will support our commitments to increase GP numbers and ensure workforce sustainability.

As at 1 July 2021 there were 922 general practices in Scotland.

Our shared priorities with the BMA were set out in the joint letter of 02 December 2021.

https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/publications/DC20201203GMS_Contract.pdf

This letter sets out the actions we are taking across all the work streams supporting the 2018 GP Contact offer. This includes musculo-skeletal, urgent care practitioners and primary care mental health nurses.

We are taking additional steps on mental health as set out in our PFG. By 2026, every GP Practice will have access to a mental health and wellbeing service. This will fund 1,000 additional dedicated staff who can help grow community mental health resilience and direct social prescribing.

We have further increased our Primary Care Fund from £195m to £250m in 21-22 in direct support of general practice. As part of this investment support for the Primary Care multi-disciplinary team has increased for £110 to £155 million.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03232 on‎ 4 October 2021 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03232 on‎ 4 October 2021 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-03232 on‎ 4 October 2021 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as this is an operational matter for the independent Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I have therefore asked SEPA’s Chief Executive to write to the Member to provide details.