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Any decision to introduce changes to a national screening programme in Scotland is guided by the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises all four nations of the United Kingdom on screening policy.

In 2024, the UK National Screening Committee is expected to make a recommendation on the use of cervical self-sampling in the screening programme. In Scotland, a working group is assessing potential models and understand any changes that would be required to the screening programme to support an initial roll-out. This work continues to be informed by developments across the UK, as well as global research.

This information is not held centrally.

The 2022 pupil census records 3740 pupils in Scotland in receipt of additional support as a result of hearing impairments and a further 69 recorded as deafblind. The level of support from a qualified Teacher of the Deaf depends upon the individual needs of each pupil. Under the Additional Support for Learning Act all teachers have a role in meeting the additional support needs of pupils with hearing impairments and those who are deafblind.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

In relation to part (a) of the question, information regarding Deaths in Prison Custody (including apparent cause of death, location and gender) can be found on the SPS website here: https://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Information/PrisonerDeaths.aspx

In relation to Parts (b) and (ii) of the question, SPS do not record this information.

In relation to part (i) of the question, of those individuals who died by apparent suicide within the last 10 years, 14 were recorded as being on SPS’s Suicide Prevention Strategy at the time of death.

The Scottish Government is currently considering the recommendations and will issue its response in due course.

Cancer is a priority for the Scottish Government and our focus remains on increasing survival rates across all cancers. The one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in Scotland is around 25% whilst the five-year survival rate is just over 5%, similar to rates in the other UK nations. Only 17% of people with pancreatic cancer in Scotland are diagnosed at stage 1 and 2, which partly explains current low survival rates.

Early diagnosis is key to pancreatic cancer survival and we continue to invest in our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme. The programme takes a whole-systems approach to early detection and encompasses primary care, diagnostics, public education, data, innovation, and screening.

A new Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision was developed as part of the ambitious ten-year cancer strategy published in June 2023. The vision is to reduce later stage disease and has a focus on reducing the health inequalities gap, alongside the strategic aim to improve cancer survival and provide excellent, equitably accessible care.

As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 November, the‎ £13 million originally allocated in 2023-24 has been announced as part of the savings required to reach a balanced budget. We remain committed to improving digital access in schools and work is ongoing regarding delivery options for future years.

In February 2022, we wrote to Chief Executives of territorial Health Boards asking that they provide free period products for their staff, if they did not already do so. All of them confirmed that these products were available for staff.

As part of the annual Staff Governance Standard Monitoring exercise for 2022-23, Health Boards have been asked how they are ensuring all staff have access to emergency period products in the workplace. Returns from this, are expected on 4 December 2023.

NHS staff can also access period products, free of charge, as and when they are required from either the local authority in which they live or in which they work.

The National Dental Inspection Programme carries out a basic inspection on all P1 and P7 pupils each year and then a representative sample of around 20% of pupils in either P1 or P7 receive a detailed inspection. A minimum threshold of around 20%, weighted to take account of SIMD, is used to produce a representative sample.

Planning applications are determined by planning authorities locally in the first instance and are not recorded centrally. The information requested is not held centrally.

The content of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes are the responsibility of university providers. All ITE programmes are accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) based on the Standard for Provisional Registration. The Professional Standards that both student teachers and registered teachers are expected to meet now specifically recognise Additional Support Needs. The Standards ensure that the needs of all learners are assessed and successfully addressed. This is at the heart of all teachers’ work and is recognised throughout the Standards.

Specifically, the GTCS has produced a professional guide “ Teaching and supporting deaf learners ” in partnership with the Scottish Sensory Centre. The purpose of the guide is to provide support for teachers to reflect on their actions and consider whether they may need further advice or professional learning and complements employer’s policies. Supporting learners and other members of the school community who have a sensory impairment is a key part of a teacher’s role. All teachers should know about the implications for learning of having a sensory impairment and should be aware of what support is available.