Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22410 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 Scottish Government does not hold this information.

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.

This information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The member may wish to contact British Transport Police who might be able to provide this information.

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.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

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 information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

The Member may wish to contact British Transport Police, who might be able to provide this information.

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 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.