Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-06145 on 1 March 2022. 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

Details of the number of asthma annual review appointments is not collected centrally. However, the Scottish Government recognises that annual asthma reviews are an important element in enabling people with asthma to self-manage their condition. That is why asthma reviews form an important priority in our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland and are already a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines.

Since the start of the pandemic, the NHS in Scotland has been dealing with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 which meant that some procedures and appointments were postponed to ensure the safety of patients and staff. This has resulted in many appointments being delivered differently or being delayed due to the additional challenges in delivering services.

However, we fully expect that patients be treated in line with their clinical priority and in these circumstances, we expect GP Practices to schedule appointments or advise of alternative arrangements as soon as clinically appropriate.

We advise anyone who has any concerns regarding their asthma to contact their GP practice. They will be best placed to provide specific advice and support based on individual circumstances.

STPR2 did not recommend further work on the business case development of this proposed fixed link after being considered at the detailed appraisal stage.

An engineering assessment of the shortest possible road tunnel and alternate bridge option, which measured 32kms and 24kms respectively, concluded that both options were currently impractical to construct. The tunnel on the grounds of fire safety and the bridge due to the potential length of span required over the deepest section of water.

Furthermore, while the STPR2 Case for Change for the Highlands and Islands Region highlighted issues relating to the resilience of island connections, no analysis undertaken through the STPR2 process supported a conclusion that a fixed link connection between the Outer Hebrides (Benbecula) and Skye would address this strategic problem. Instead, STPR2 recommendation 24, recommends the renewal and replacement of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and Northern Isles Ferry Services vessels including progressive decarbonisation by 2045.

On 26th January the Scottish Government published its draft vision for Scotland’s future public electric vehicle charging network and announced its plans for a new £60m public electric vehicle infrastructure funding programme. This recognises that to grow Scotland’s public charging network we will need to attract commercial investment which can potentially secure significant opportunities to anchor well-paid, high-quality jobs across Scotland.

The vision acknowledges that the public sector will have a critical role in attracting investment in public electric vehicle charging infrastructure through partnership working with the private sector. Local authorities will continue to plan outcomes for local areas including development of public charge point strategies and community engagement around these. This new approach to growing Scotland’s public electric vehicle charging network potentially enables a variety of charge point ownership and operator models, which could include community initiatives, particularly in rural areas. There is also potential to deliver community wealth building opportunities through local public procurement exercises and targeting socially inclusive investment to support local jobs.

The Scottish Government does not gather information about the FOI performance of other Scottish public authorities. However, the Member may wish to note that since April 2013 public authorities have submitted FOI handling data to the Scottish Information Commissioner on a quarterly basis: FOI and EIR statistics database (itspublicknowledge.info) .

Individual NHS Boards may hold additional information.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to different zero emissions heat technologies, drawing on a wide range of evidence, including modelling of the suitability of different technologies across the whole Scottish housing stock, and consideration of wider energy system interactions. We are also working to support households to make decisions that are right for them, through advice provided by Home Energy Scotland, reform of Energy Performance Certificates, and development of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies.

Research on the suitability of different technologies across the housing stock in Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change/

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce, subject to consultation, regulations requiring Scotland’s homes to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective from 2025 onwards, with a range of backstop dates from 2028 to 2033. We plan to consult during 2022 on our proposals for such regulations, and this will include details of any exemptions, definitions of properties in scope, and matters relating to compliance.

The area of the revised closure is based on sediment distribution in the Firth of Clyde, with greater protection for those sediment types known to be favoured by spawning cod. Full details and coordinates are available at: Fishing closures: Firth of Clyde - 2022 and 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and https://www.gov.scot/publications/cod-spawning-areas-research/

The non-continuation of the exemptions is based on scientific evidence that, while spawning, cod are extremely vulnerable to disturbance . They are focussed on mating, and the males are unwilling to leave their hard-won leks, so both sexes are less likely to try and evade oncoming fishing gear which means that mating adults are at risk of being caught. In addition, physical disturbance within the relevant areas of the Firth of Clyde during the mating period will disrupt the mating activity and potentially destroy the lek areas, and cod so disturbed may not return (and therefore may not spawn that year). Removal of all fishing activity in the closure areas should significantly mitigate this risk. If the stronger males are caught or disrupted leaving the weaker males, those males that remain may not be able to attract females. Moreover, stressed males are less likely to initiate mating. Noise may also disrupt mating, with females potentially unable to hear mating calls (Slabbekoorn et al 2010).

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.

I regularly meet representatives of all Scottish local authorities, and their national body COSLA, to discuss a wide range of issues as part of our commitment to working in partnership with local government to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Information about Ministerial engagements is proactively released on the Scottish Government website. The spreadsheets include a wide-range of information including details of the organisation / individual I met along with the subject discussed.