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We know that those from areas of deprivation are less likely to take part in screening and more likely to delay presenting with possible symptoms. This is why we launched, and continue to invest in, our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme with a focus on reducing health inequalities such as these. The Programme adopts a whole-systems approach to improving earlier diagnosis rates from public awareness & education to supporting primary care improvements.

We committed £2 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 to tackle inequalities in cancer screening programmes and will invest a further £1 million in 23-24 to build on progress to date. This commitment will be reflected in the forthcoming cancer strategy. To direct and support this work, the first Equity in Screening Strategy is being produced in collaboration with NHS and third sector partners, setting out a vision to achieve equity for all those eligible for screening.

We regularly undertake research with people from areas of deprivation in Scotland to help inform and measure our Detect Cancer Earlier (DCE) Programme’s behaviour change campaigns. As a result of our most recent insight we developed and launched ‘Be the Early Bird’ on 6 March 2023 to increase awareness of possible symptoms and empower those concerned to act early. A roadshow is currently touring areas of deprivation across Scotland to reinforce this message and encourage prompt action.

A wealth of data and insight from varying sources has been analysed to help inform Scotland’s new cancer strategy, including incidence, survival, staging, socioeconomic insight and pathway timings to name a few.

We are aware that flash glucose sensors, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), and other diabetes technologies can significantly benefit people living with diabetes. Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021, contains a key commitment to further increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies. A link to the Plan can be found at link: Diabetes Care in Scotland (www.gov.scot) .

Our national policy is to increase access to these life changing diabetes technologies to everyone who would benefit, and we expect NHS Boards to provide technology to all clinically suitable children and adults.

Between 2016 and 2021, the Scottish Government invested £15 million to support the increased provision of insulin pumps for adults and CGM for all ages.

Further funding of £14.6 million was then allocated to NHS Boards in January 2022 to support increased access to diabetes therapies, including the emerging closed loop system technology.

We work closely with the Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs) within each board and ensure that all resource support is targeted to support the needs of local populations.

The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) who are an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency. EST then administer the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund and the Switched-on Taxi Loan on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

For the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund no funding has been paid to taxi owners/operators in Dundee. This is due to the taxi vehicles operating in Dundee mainly comprising of make/models that are unsuitable for retrofitting.

Since 2019 until the 28 February 2023 the Switched-on Taxi Loan has supported 12 taxi owners/operators in Dundee by providing interest free loans to support the purchase of new taxis.

The Scottish Government will set out its timetable for commencing all sections of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 in due course.

Transport Scotland intends to achieve journey time savings via a series of infrastructure upgrades including signal enhancements and specific capacity alterations to facilitate the operation of more and faster trains on the same route.

Our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out actions to support everyone in Scotland to eat well and be a healthy weight. These include holistic actions in a variety of settings to raise awareness of healthier food options.

The Plan is underpinned by our Scottish Dietary Goals . Taken together, the actions articulate a holistic approach across the food chain and within society. These include proposals for a mix of: restrictions on less healthy food provision (such as those on promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt) and actions to make it easier to access healthier options.

An example of our holistic approach is Parent Club, which links together advice on diet with other issues that parents and carers may want advice on. The Parent Club Family Support Directory raises awareness of different food choices and links resources for healthy eating, including: Best Start Foods, free nursery milk, and information on free school meals and the Young Patients Family Fund. The Parent Club Recipe Database includes healthy, low cost options and alternatives approved by nutritionists.

In addition, Food Standards Scotland has published an online dietary guidance resource, Eat Well, Your Way | Eat well, your way (eatwellyourway.scot) , which delivers evidence-based dietary advice along with practical tips in a user-friendly format.

Once planning permission has been granted for a development, whether by the relevant planning authority or, as the case may be, on appeal to the Scottish Ministers, there is no further opportunity for third parties to challenge the decision under planning legislation.

The Scottish planning system is plan-led, with a focus on involving all interests as early and effectively as possible. There are multiple opportunities for local communities to get involved during both the plan-making and planning application stages of the planning and development process.

Furthermore, our ongoing planning reform programme has sought to further strengthen engagement and participation, including the introduction of Local Place Plans and improvements to statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC). These reforms have been geared towards front-loading community participation in planning rather than providing opportunity for conflict towards the end.

It is open to any person to seek judicial review of any decision through the Scottish Courts. It is also open to that person, if they are not entitled to legal aid, to seek a protected expenses order from the Courts. The purpose of such an order is to redress the potential imbalance of financial resources between parties in relation to funding litigation by limiting the liability to the applicant in paying costs if their case is unsuccessful.

The Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth met with the appointed administrators for M&Co on 19 January 2023 and offered his support, including via Government engagement with Scottish Enterprise. He also met with Katy Clark and Neil Bibby MSPs, and offered to support engagement with local authorities if it would be helpful once there was clarity about when stores will close.

The Scottish Government continues to engage with local authorities, commercial and community partners via its Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) Forum and its Retail Industry Leadership Group (ILG). The TCAP Forum established jointly with COSLA brings together stakeholder expertise across the public, third and private sector to help to progress key actions. The sector-led Retail ILG has been established to drive, and support delivery of the actions set out in the Retail Strategy for Scotland. Both the Action Plan and Strategy aim to put town centres at the heart of decision making.

Officials have met with housing developers throughout the preparation of NPF4. Most recently, Planning, Housing and Analytical officials met with members of the industry to discuss matters relating to Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) on 6 February 2023. This followed the Local Government and Housing Committee’s consideration of NPF4. We will continue to work with Homes for Scotland and their members as we move to deliver NPF4.

We are supporting the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland and Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) to implement the recommendations of the Future Planners Project Report.

The Future Planners Project Report, commissioned by the Scottish Government and carried out by HOPS and RTPI in 2022, explored the options available to support the growth of entrants into the planning profession in Scotland. The Report recommended that the RTPI lead on introducing a planning apprenticeship scheme over the next 3 years. We are currently supporting the RTPI to promote the case for creation of a planning apprenticeship scheme.