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In September 2022, the Scottish Government published the report from our consultation on proposals to make regulations under sections 17 to 19 of the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016, which could introduce restrictions on the following:

• advertising
• brand-sharing in products and services
• free distribution and nominal pricing
• sponsorship of an activity, event or person

The responses, together with the analysis report will inform our next steps, which we are currently considering. Any action we seek to take will build on the regulations already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under 18s.

We are greatly concerned by reports of children and under-age young people obtaining nicotine vaping products (NVPs). NVPs are an age restricted product and should not be sold to anyone under the age of 18. Laws are also in place which ban the purchase of vaping products for under-18s (proxy purchase), and stores need to have an age verification policy for the sale of tobacco and NVPs.

In October 2022, we wrote to all registered retailers of these products to remind them of their duty of sale and we regularly meet with Trading Standards on enforcement activity.

There are already regulations in place which restrict the marketing and promotion of vaping products to under 18s. Our recent consultation proposed additional restrictions and we are considering next steps. Any action we seek to take will build on the regulations already in place.

We will also publish our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan this year, which will include actions to reduce vaping among young people. We are reviewing vaping education for young people in schools and have also funded ASH Scotland to work with a range of youth organisations on the risks associated with vaping.

The Scottish Government commissioned The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) to adapt the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) diagnostics guidance, to inform a Scotland-specific approach on placental growth factor (PlGF) based testing which was published on Thursday 23 March 2023. The report highlights the potential benefits to pregnant women and their families and demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of testing.

On the day of the SHTG report’s publication, the Scottish Government wrote to NHS Boards asking all NHS Boards in Scotland to take note of the SHTG Recommendations and work to ensure that all pregnant women who need PlGF testing are able to access it as part of their routine maternity care. My officials will continue to work with The Scottish Perinatal Network as it takes forward its work to support NHS Boards in implementing PlGF testing locally.

Spend on our trunk road improvement projects is managed within the Capital Land and Works allocation of £121.9 million as part of the Motorway and Trunk Roads Spending Plans set out in the Scottish Budget: 2023-24. This covers preparation and delivery of a range of projects and programmes including A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness, the medium and long term solutions at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and improvements to the A96 corridor as well as a number of other projects and programmes. Spend on each individual project is managed with the Capital Land and Works allocation budget line which reflects the scope of work anticipated to be taken forward within the financial year.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to improving the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and to engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders. I am grateful for the continuing interest the A83 Rest and Be Thankful Campaign Group has in the scheme development process and I will continue the positive engagement the Scottish Government has had with them to date. Subject to parliamentary business, I would be pleased to meet with the group to discuss the scheme and our commitment to developing an infrastructure solution to address the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

The forthcoming 10-year cancer strategy will be accompanied by a 3-year action plan aligning with the ambitions set out in our strategy. There will not be additional action plans for specific cancer types, however in both the strategy and plan we will continue to focus on those cancer types that are the largest burden and have poorer survival, in particular the less survivable cancers.

Arrangements where a person occupies accommodation as their only or principal home are not considered short-term lets. Interpretation and application of the licensing scheme to specific circumstances is a matter for licensing authorities. We continue to monitor operation of the scheme as a whole, taking a responsive approach. We have also committed to undertaking a review in 2024.

The Women’s Health Plan includes a medium-term action to “ensure women are properly supported around the time of menopause to assess their future risk of osteoporosis and fractures and given appropriate lifestyle advice” and action is being taken to progress this work.

On 5 th April, Professor Anna Glasier, the Women’s Health Champion, met with the Royal Osteoporosis Society to discuss the higher risk of osteoporosis for women and the impact that this has on their health outcomes in later life.

In addition, accessible information has been made available to women via the menopause resource on the NHS Inform Women’s Health Platform. The resource highlights that women who have been through menopause are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis as a result of the lower level of oestrogen in the body and provides advice on what women can do to reduce their chances of developing osteoporosis. Information is included on lifestyle changes like exercise and nutrition to improve bone health as well as advice on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

The Scottish Government has also commissioned NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to create a bespoke training package and framework focussed on menopause and menstrual health for GPs and others working in Primary Care. This package will take a life course approach, including ensuring healthcare professionals are able to support women in being aware of the risk of osteoporosis around the time of menopause – and what can help.

The Scottish Government is tackling marine litter with actions detailed in our Marine Litter Strategy, which aims to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment, to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits. Our Strategy and action plan was refreshed in September 2022 and focuses on the most problematic types of marine litter including fishing and aquaculture gear, sewage-related debris, and plastic pellets. The Strategy will drive forward our work over the next five years and co-ordinate the efforts of our stakeholders and partners, working at a national and international level to help tackle this global problem.

The many actions include: improving the management of end of life fishing and aquaculture gear to reduce litter and improve recycling rates, contributing to our circular economy; working across the UK administrations to put an end to pollution caused by wet wipes containing plastic; and developing international solutions to prevent spills of plastic pellets (nurdles), which can be found on our beaches and risk the health of our marine wildlife. In addition to preventative actions, we are also supporting litter removal, whether off shore through the funding of KIMO’s Fishing for Litter scheme, or at our rivers, with Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Upstream Battle project.

The bay at Arrochar was chosen as the location of a marine litter case study in Loch Long in 2017. Since then, a total of £183,827.78 has been spent on litter removal at the site. This includes the cost of heavy machinery contracting, haulage, and the disposal of the mixed debris. Costs have varied annually according the amount of material washed ashore requiring removal.