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Under the phased restart of self-referrals, women aged 71-74, and those over 75 with a history of breast cancer, are currently eligible to self-refer for a screening appointment. Where the eligibility criteria is met, a breast screening appointment should be offered within nine months of registration for self-referral. All screening centres across Scotland have taken steps to ensure their teams are aware of the eligibility criteria.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any reports of women unable to register for a self-referral appointment if they meet the eligibility criteria. We would encourage any women who have been unable to obtain an appointment to contact their local screening centre. The latest information on self-referrals and contact details for local centres can be found at Breast screening in Scotland | NHS inform .

A review of the tenancy deposit schemes was undertaken at the end of 2018. It was clear from the findings that the current regulations continued to provide a robust regulatory and operational framework.

Following the review a number of revisions to the operating procedures were made under The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 . The schemes submitted revised procedures in October 2019 and were reapproved in November 2019.

There have been no further significant changes to the revised scheme or original proposal referred to the Scottish Government for approval. Any considered changes would be discussed as part of routine monitoring discussions.

Scottish Government officials and Ministers meet with NUS on a regular basis to discuss ongoing policy development and issues impacting Scotland’s student population. Meetings are typically scheduled as part of an ongoing series of engagements, however ad hoc meetings may occur to discuss specific issues or concerns. There are not typically clear ‘agreed outcomes’, rather a continued discussion.

Meetings as part of steering groups, working groups and forums which NUS were members/in attendance:

Purpose Built Student Accommodation Steering Group, met on 6 July 2021, 6 August 2021, 14 October 2021, 5 May 2022, 6 June 2022, 3 March 2023, 24 March 2023.

Student Accommodation Group, met on 24 February 2021, 25 March 2021, 13 May 2021, 3 June 2021, 24 June 2021, 26 August 2021, 23 September 2021, 4 November 2021, 25 July 2022, 6 October 2022

Disability Related Student Support Review Steering Group, met on 1 June 2021

Student Support Stakeholder Engagement Group, met on 10 August 2021, 16 September 2021, 28 October 2021, 2 December 2021, 24 January 2022, 23 February 2022, 29 April 2022, 15 June 2022, 25 August 2022, 10 November 2022

Covid Recovery Group, as a full Covid Recovery Group member, NUS representatives attended meetings over the period of June 2021 – Oct 2022. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss covid response measures and the development and implementation of guidance for the FE/HE sector. Stakeholder attendance was optional.

Meetings with NUS and SG/SAAS/SFC officials specifically :

Meeting with NUS to discuss support for Ukrainian students and the establishment of the International Students Emergency Hardship Fund (meeting to raise awareness of support being offered), 14 April 2022

Introductory meeting between the NUS President and (then) interim Chief Executive of SAAS, 18 March 22

Meeting with NUS on the Scottish Government consultation on residency eligibility in Further and Higher Education. Officials met with a range of stakeholders who had a vested interest in the meeting. NUS were planning on submitting a formal response to the consultation, 8 March 2023

Introductory meeting between Director of ALS and NUS, 20 February 2023

Regular meetings between NUS, SG, SAAS and SFC, met on 10 May 21, 23 June 2021, 4 August 2021, 6 September 2021, 8 October 2021, 18 November 2021

Postgraduate Review - Stakeholder Consultation - NUS Feedback, 26 July 2022

Meeting with NUS on the outcomes of the SFC Review, 23 August 2021

Meetings between NUS and Minister:

Quarterly meeting, 18 February 2022

Attending NUS Scotland ‘BROKE’ event, 21 February 2022

Quarterly meeting, 19 May 2022

Spending review meeting, 31 May 2022

Introductory meeting with new NUS Scotland President, Ellie Gomersall, 21 September 2022

Quarterly meeting, 28 September 2022

Quarterly meeting, 6 December 2022

Meeting to discuss NUS Scotland ‘Cost of Survival’ report findings, 22 March 2023

The Scottish Government is committed to a fair, inclusive and fiscally sustainable form of local taxation. Scottish Ministers have convened the ‘Joint Working Group on Sources of Local Government Funding and Council Tax Reform’, which is chaired by the Scottish Government and COSLA. The group is initially discussing and reviewing targeted changes to Council Tax to reflect the current circumstances created by the cost crisis. The group will also consider approaches to longer term reform, utilising the development of effective deliberative engagement, on sources of Local Government funding and Council Tax.

The 2023 non-domestic rates revaluation took effect on 1 April 2023. The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2026, implementing the independent Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates recommendation for three yearly revaluations which was legislated for in the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020.

The tax rates which are used to calculate non-domestic rates bills are reviewed and set annually in the context of the Scottish Budget.

The last couple of years have seen input prices increase for pig farmers in Scotland. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has seen feed and fuel costs for pig farmers increase significantly. Through the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group we are working with other administrations to monitor the farmgate price.

It is positive that in recent months we have seen an uplift in pig prices but we recognise that many pig farms will still be making a loss per pig. We will continue to monitor the situation and engage with representatives of the sector.

We consulted, alongside the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland DAERA, on the contractual practices in the UK pig sector to understand whether contract reform could provide greater certainty to both pig producers and processors.

In 2021 and 2022 via the Pig Producers Hardship Support Scheme the Scottish Government provided funding to producers who had been affected by the temporary closure of the Quality Pig Processors plant at Brechin and the loss of the plant’s export licence to China. There were three tranches of the scheme deliver over £1.8 million in support.

The Scottish Government wants to reverse the rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation, and will prioritise action on the recommendations considered to have the biggest and most immediate impact on reducing this number. The Scottish Government will publish its response to the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group’s recommendations in due course.

An estimation of the costs to implement the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group's recommendations has not been carried out. As the task and finish groups are sub-groups of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group (HPSG), the implementation of the recommendations will be discussed with HPSG members and other bodies given the need for partnership working on action to reduce the use of temporary accommodation.

The Scottish Government welcomes the work undertaken by the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group, which will inform the Scottish Government's next steps. We are currently considering the report and will work with COSLA and Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group members to respond to the recommendations, prioritising actions that will have the greatest impact on reducing the numbers in temporary accommodation.

I can confirm that this programme was developed and nine Urology Nurse (non-medical) Advanced Practitioners with cystoscopy skills completed the programme in February 2023 and nine are due for completion February 2024.

The Scottish Government remains committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, acknowledging the potential that it has to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening. As introducing a new screening test into the National Screening Programme is inherently complex, a working group has been convened to assess potential models and understand any required changes to the screening programme to support an initial roll-out. This work is being informed by emerging evidence from UK and global research, and will put us in a strong position to consider how any recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) can be implemented in Scotland.

While the NSC recognises the potential benefits of self-sampling, it has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend implementation. Studies are underway to gather further evidence, but it is not yet known when the NSC may make a positive recommendation. Additionally, it is unclear when the work to assess and validate a test for HPV self-sampling in the UK will be complete.