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I know that time is tight, so I will quickly ask about two areas that have been discussed before that need thought around capital investment. The first is reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in NHS buildings. Do you know where we are with that? To the best of your knowledge, will that be addressed?

The other area is the commitment to net zero in the health service. That really changes things for the health service, and is an important aspect of it. How do you feel that capital investment on that will go this year?

I want to ask about alcohol and alcohol harm. It has never been more urgent for the Government to devote sufficient resources to enable the development of a coherent plan of action to prevent people from suffering from the many and varied harms of alcohol. At this stage, it does not feel as if the budget will provide for that. Will the Government commit to looking at ensuring that we get enough resources to tackle alcohol and alcohol harm?

Thank you.

I want to ask a wee bit about capital investment. The Scottish Government previously said that it intended to publish a capital investment strategy for health. Do you have any clarity on when that might happen?

That is helpful to know. During those discussions, will we get some clarity about the pause on the national treatment centres? Is that something that you are considering?

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses, in light of recent reports that the number of students accepted on to nursing courses remains below its targets. (S6T-02253)

This is the third year in a row in which Scotland has failed to fill places on nursing courses. There are currently 2,380 whole-time equivalent nursing and midwifery vacancies in Scotland and we know that there has been a reduction in the overall number of nursing posts advertised here. What is the Government doing specifically to ensure that those studying nursing are guaranteed a job when they qualify?

The cabinet secretary is correct that the Government-led nursing and midwifery task force should play an important role in improving recruitment and retention of the workforce.

However, there is little clarity in the proposed budget about how the task force’s recommendations will be fully delivered. Does the cabinet secretary agree with me on that, and can he confirm that he is committed to fully resourcing the delivery of those important recommendations?

While you were speaking, the opportunity for people who are in training to go to the islands came to my mind. Do you think that more could be done in that regard so that people see the benefits of the work that is done there, and also the lifestyle, which they might be interested in?

For me, as a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, our inquiry into remote and rural healthcare painted a sobering picture. Patients who live in such areas face unique challenges in accessing healthcare, so I welcome the debate, which will enable us to have an open and frank discussion about the harsh realities that are experienced by so many Scots who live in those areas.

The oral and written evidence that the committee received only reinforced what we—and, I believe, the Government—already knew: that remote, rural and island communities experience greater inequalities in accessing healthcare when compared with communities in urban and central areas. The fact that someone lives in a remote and rural community should not limit their access to basic and specialist care. Why do cancer patients in remote, rural and island areas receive less specialist care? Why are maternity and gynaecology patients in such areas forced to travel long distances to give birth and attend appointments? Why do communities that have a particularly high elderly population have problems in accessing palliative care and support?

To address those issues and the others that members across the chamber have mentioned, the Government needs to be honest about how bad the situation is for many people in Scotland. The challenges to do with staff recruitment and retention are a major issue across the whole of Scotland, but they are particularly hard felt in rural communities, as we have heard. Even a small number of vacancies can cause huge challenges in running services safely. A lack of suitable training and development opportunities, unattractive pay and conditions, and a lack of access to affordable housing act as significant barriers.

The Government must work with trade unions, local government, professional bodies, training providers and NHS boards to discuss opportunities for creating better training, living and transport flexibility. “Cross-portfolio” does not just mean talking about it—it means actually delivering results across portfolios.

I also urge the Government to consider apprenticeship opportunities—perhaps that is what the cabinet secretary discussed earlier—for healthcare workers across our professions. At a meeting that I held last week, the British Dietetic Association conveyed its willingness to engage with the Government on that and to discuss how greater flexibility could be worked into the system to promote better uptake of apprenticeships in healthcare roles. I wonder whether the cabinet secretary will respond to that in his closing remarks.

Many professionals have raised the issue as a way of recruiting and retaining excellent staff from diverse backgrounds. However, despite what the cabinet secretary said in his opening speech, there seems to be a difference on the ground. Things do not seem to be moving very quickly.