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The requested information on how many shifts have been provided by (a) staff bank and (b) agencies in each NHS board area in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally.

Information on the total hours worked by Nursing and Midwifery bank and agency staff by NHS board since March 2012 can be found on the following link: NHSScotland workforce | Turas Data Intelligence (Bank and Agency) tab, change measure to 'hours worked'.

£25.8m has been allocated to date through the Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) and has been awarded to support local authorities, in partnership with bus operators and Regional Transport Partnerships, to deliver bus priority infrastructure.

Funding has been awarded through the BPF for Partnerships to undertake the projects outlined in Table 1 below. The approach in the first year of the Fund was to deliver infrastructure already identified that could be constructed in the short term. This includes making permanent previously temporary projects that Transport Scotland funded to help passengers and operators during Covid through our Bus Priority Rapid Deployment Fund (BPRDF).

Given the limited number of projects that were ready to implement we also provided funding for business development in the form of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) studies and Outline Business Cases (OBC). This essential work will enable Partnerships to identify more projects that provide the most benefit for passengers, businesses and communities across Scotland while ensuring value for money.

Table 1: Bus Partnership Fund awarded projects as at September 2022

A review of the content of the Scottish Health Survey took place between 18 July and 26 September 2022. The review asked users to explain their use of the current survey content and provided the opportunity for them to suggest any new questions, which could include questions relating to eating disorders. A report will be published in advance of the 2024 survey reporting the findings of the review and decisions on the survey content going forwards.

A public consultation was held early in the process of developing the new strategy. Over 250 responses were received, which are being independently analysed and will be reported in the Autumn. We are also holding a series of workshops with people with lived experience of cancer in September 2022 to help us gain further insight into the consultation responses and hear directly about peoples’ experiences of cancer. Respondents include those with blood cancers and blood cancer charities.

In addition, we are holding meetings with third sector representatives including those working on blood cancers. All their views will contribute to the evidence that will inform the new cancer strategy.

Information on the number of clinical nurse specialists in NHS Scotland broken down by NHS board is not centrally held.

The Scottish Government’s consultation process for the new cancer strategy, which will include the earlier diagnosis vision, completed in June 2022 with over 250 responses. An independent analysis was then undertaken throughout July to September to ensure a balanced interpretation of responses.

Focus groups with those with lived experience of cancer and third sector are taking place throughout September to ensure the reflections of all cancer patients, including those with blood cancers, are considered in the new strategy and vision.

The Scottish Government has committed to developing a new earlier cancer diagnosis vision, which will form part of the new cancer strategy under development and expected to publish Spring 2023. Based on a wealth of evidence and clinical expertise, the vision will outline the future direction of the Detect Cancer Early Programme (DCE), including the cancer types where concerted efforts are needed most.

DCE’s website, getcheckedearly.org, is currently under refresh and will feature a blood cancer section. It is expected to go live Autumn 2022.

Information on the number of haematology clinical nurse specialists posts are currently unfilled is not centrally held.

We recognise the importance of the Scottish Events Campus as one of the world’s top conference and events venues, as recently exemplified in the successful hosting of COP26. It is clear that the SEC makes a vital contribution not just to Glasgow’s economy, but to Scotland’s economy as a whole.

As Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, I engaged with Peter Duthie, the CEO of the SEC, with regards to the SEC expansion plans and broader matters affecting the events sector. These discussions have necessarily been paused due to emerging budgetary pressures and reassessment of budget priorities as set out in the Resource Spending Review. We are therefore unable to commit to the provision of funding support via a capital finance package for the expansion of the conferencing centre at the current time.

However, we are keen to continue to engage with the SEC and the wider business conference and events sector on how the review of the National Event Strategy Scotland: The Perfect Stage, can enable us to build on its success, and to deliver on the priorities of our National Strategy for Economic Transformation.