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Wildfires typically require a significant emergency response and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as part of its new wildfire strategy, is in the process of providing a package of specialised vehicles including All-Terrain Vehicles, additional 4x4 vehicles and logistical support units. Additionally, a large amount of new equipment has been provided to support crews as they respond to these types of incidents as part of its wildfire strategy. Crews are also supported by wildfire tactical advisors from around Scotland.

Land managers are alert to the risks of wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park which can occur throughout the year. There is a large pool of people across the Cairngorms National Park who are expert in fighting fires and are well equipped and trained to do so. There are good communications between land managers and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Land managers also take preventative action to prevent fires from occurring through patrols and signage at periods of high fire risk.

The Park Authority Ranger Service plays an important role in patrolling, visitor management and fire prevention through educating the public. The Park Authority is developing an integrated wildfire management plan to improve measures around wildfire prevention and response to any wildfires.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority recently consulted on fire management and the potential requirement for byelaws in the Cairngorms National Park as part of the measures to help control the risk of wildfire. Responses to this consultation are now being analysed.

Raising awareness of all cancers, including bowel, remains a priority for the Scottish Government. We published our Cancer Strategy for Scotland Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) along with an initial three year Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

A new Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision was developed as part of the new strategy. The vision has a focus on reducing the health inequalities gap and raising awareness of cancer symptoms, particularly for those from areas of deprivation.

We know that the earlier cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat and even cure which is why we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Health Boards are responsible for delivering health services and deciding on the best means of accommodating staff including nurses, and GPs if necessary.

The Scottish Police Authority and the Chief Constable have responsibility for police housing as outlined in the Police Scotland Housing Strategy (Estates), 2022.

The Scottish Government, along with Health Boards and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), is actively considering opportunities to allocate funding to deliver activity utilising the £30 million investment announced by the First Minister on 1 April. This funding is being targeted at a series of national and local plans to reduce backlogs in orthopaedics, ophthalmology, diagnostics and cancer backlog by maximising the use of local and national resources across Scotland.

Once we have concluded this process we will provide a breakdown of how the funding has been allocated by Health Board.

The initial £30 million of targeted investment is the first instalment of a £300 million plan over the next three years to help reduce waiting lists, subject to the Scottish Budget process.

Decisions on the Government’s spending plans for future years are subject to the outcome of the annual Scottish Budget setting process and associated approval by the Scottish Parliament. In-year revisions to the 2024-25 Scottish Budget are subject to parliamentary approval in the same way.

A progress update on the Fiscal Framework was published in December 2023 - Progress Publication, December 2023: Fiscal Framework between Scottish Government and Local Government (www.gov.scot) . We continue to work closely with COSLA and our shared intention is to agree and publish the framework in advance of Budget 2025-26.

The Scottish Government fully values the importance of the music industry to Scotland’s culture, and the role venues play in the talent pipeline.

We have committed through the New Deal for Business to engage with industry to explore non-regulatory solutions to deliver policy objectives across Scottish Government. We are sympathetic to the needs of grassroots venues and are engaging with stakeholders to understand how we can best support industry-led initiatives.

The grant funding provided by the Scottish Government to Glasgow East Woman’s Aid (GEWA) is aligned with key project milestones and delivery activities. As GEWA was unable to demonstrate that grant conditions were being met, due to the organisation’s inability to restore support services, it was unable to draw down from the allocated grant. Subsequently, the GEWA Board’s decision to wind-up the organisation led to the Grant being withdrawn.

We are continuing to work with partners to ensure that Scottish Government grant funding, that had been allocated to GEWA, will be redistributed to similar local services to ensure that survivors have the support they need.

The Scottish Government is aware of the current situation at GEWA. We are working with our fund managers, Inspiring Scotland, and other funders of GEWA to ensure support is available to survivors. Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, a key funder, is working on refuge contingency plans for those affected.

It would not be appropriate to comment on any speculation surrounding the finances of the organisation or on matters relating to potential legal or employment disputes.

The information requested on what data we hold on any current physiotherapist vacancies across all NHS boards can be found on the TURAS NHS Education for Scotland workforce statistics site at: https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/data-and-reports/official-workforce-statistics/all-official-statistics-publications/05-march-2024-workforce/dashboards/nhs-scotland-workforce/?pageid=11224

Throughout the public consultation and in reaching the decision to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters, the Scottish Government recognised the importance of potential wider environmental and ecosystem benefits, which included potential benefits to sandeel, seabirds, marine mammals, and other fish species.

There are currently no plans to conduct an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters on seabird populations, including Atlantic puffin, as these measures only came into force on 26 March 2024. However, there are several monitoring and research programmes in place that can add to the evidence base in relation to potential impacts of closing fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, and which can be drawn on should such an assessment be undertaken in the future.