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Studies looking at the impact of respiratory infections on those with lung conditions have often demonstrated that this cohort are at greater risk of hospitalisation. We recognise that people with lung conditions often have pre-existing reduced lung function and if they become infected with COVID-19 or flu, are at a disadvantage from the onset.

As set out in Priority 5 of our Health and social care: winter preparedness plan 2023-2024, “Protecting people who may be most impacted by severe illness, hospitalisation or death from Covid-19 and flu, through vaccination, is a key means of protecting individuals from illness and reducing demand on our health and social care systems.”

Our successful vaccination programme means many people previously considered at highest risk of infection and severe disease, and the wider population, are now far less likely to become seriously ill from Covid-19 or flu.

However, a group of people do remain at high risk – primarily people who have a weakened immune system. These people should continue to follow the advice of their GP or specialist clinician, who best know their health condition and circumstances.

The Best Start Implementation Programme Board was tasked with taking forward implementation of the recommendations within Best Start. The Programme Board set up the Perinatal Sub Group and asked it to take forward the Neonatal Intensive Care work, including an options appraisal process to identify the final three units. The Perinatal Sub Group comprises clinical experts, including the chair of the Scottish Neonatal Consultants Group, the chair of the Scottish neonatal nurses group, the Scottish Clinical Lead for neonatology, the Scottish clinical representative from the National Neonatal Audit Programme, the neonatal consultant lead for the neonatal transport service, senior management representation from the Scottish Ambulance Service, a Head of midwifery, the Scottish Clinical Lead for Obstetrics, the Chief Executive of the neonatal charity, Bliss and is chaired by a Health Board Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive.

The Expert Group that agreed the short list criteria and weighting for the options appraisal comprised the following experts (representing roles that held at that time):

• Helen Mactier, consultant neonatologist and Honorary Secretary of President of British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM)
• Gopi Menon, consultant neonatologist and President of BAPM
• Alan Fenton, Consultant Neonatologist, immediate past President of BAPM, and Chair of Independent Advisory Group for the National Neonatal Audit Programme;
• Corinne Love, Consultant Obstetrician, Scottish Government Senior Medical Officer;
• Eddie Doyle, Senior Medical Advisor, Scottish Government Paediatrics and Neonatal.

The New Model of Neonatal Care is aimed at the most premature and sickest of babies and is based on a review of evidence carried out by Dr Anna Gavine, Dr Steve MacGillivray and Prof Mary Renfrew of the University of Dundee and a summary of the evidence review is published within The Best Start ( Appendix H ).

The evidence showed that outcomes for very low birth weight babies (VLBW) are better when they are delivered and treated in Neonatal Intensive Care Units with full support services, experienced staff and a critical mass of activity (expert recommendation defines this as care for a minimum of 100 VLBW babies a year).

This evidence has since strengthened with the publication in 2021 of the British Association for Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Framework for Practice , which sets out optimal arrangements for neonatal intensive care.

As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to prioritising capital spending to achieve net zero and maintain high quality public infrastructure across Scotland. We have been consistently open about the challenges facing our capital investment plans and tough decisions will need to be taken at the 2024-25 Budget to ensure we remain fiscally sustainable.

The challenging economic conditions of the last few years resulting from Brexit and high inflation as well as the real terms fall in the capital grant allocation from the UK Government has significantly impacted our ability to deliver on all capital infrastructure commitments. Given the economic challenges we face, we have committed to refreshing the multi-year capital spending envelopes and resetting the infrastructure project pipeline, including road projects, alongside the 2024-25 Budget.

The Scottish Government continues to explore options for incentivising the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as it develops its Aviation Strategy, recognising that transitioning to SAF is a crucial factor in the worldwide effort to decarbonise aviation.

In light of proposed UK Government action on SAF, officials are considering what support the Scottish Government could provide while recognising that significant levers remain reserved. In doing so, we are drawing on the responses to our consultation on the aviation strategy and the main findings from Scottish Enterprise’s recent SAF supply chain study. We will also involve stakeholders as appropriate.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all adults who require rehabilitation have timely access to the right information and services by the end of 2025 through our Once for Scotland Rehabilitation Approach. This is supported by NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships, encouraging cross-sector working with third and leisure sectors to support community-based services and supported self-management. We are working with key partners to deliver this, and various measures are already in place to support delivery for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22464 on 7 November 2023. 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 Civil Contingencies Act (2004) places a statutory duty on responders to cooperate and share information.

There are several technical layers of fallback capabilities in place for communication during circumstances that challenge the usual methods of communication. However, work continues to review current arrangements and ensure they are resilient to a wide range of risks. The existing resilient telecommunications plan for Scotland is currently under review, led by Police Scotland.

As I set out in my statement to Parliament in May, I will begin to take forward a more focused consultation in the autumn on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict the promotion of less healthy food and drink where those are sold to the public. We have begun engaging with stakeholders as part of this process. It is important that engagement on our proposals is extensive and as inclusive as possible.

The Scottish Government has no locus to intervene in this matter. The Scottish Information Commissioner is entirely independent of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is also a distinct Scottish public authority from the Scottish Government, in terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.