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While the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland, re-phasing of funding has meant that not all the challenges we are facing will be addressed in a single budget and therefore there is no community hearing service in operation at this time.

While our response to the Independent Review of Audiology is implemented, we will continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform, and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

The Scottish Government is actively working with partners to establish the Investment Zone for the North East region. There is a jointly agreed and delivered Gateway process for the Investment Zone to follow through to delivery. This is currently underway, and it is anticipated that the Investment Zone will be established and operational later this year.

The Scottish and UK Government jointly developed an evidence-led and objective place selection methodology for Investment Zones, adapting the approach taken by the UK Government in England when selecting Investment Zone regions.

As part of the place selection process, financial modelling was undertaken to assess the potential economic benefits of the proposed Investment Zones. This analysis considered a range of factors, including wellbeing economy need, employment growth, and the attraction of inward investment. The modelling also examined the anticipated fiscal impact, including potential revenue generation and cost implications for both governments. The place selection methodology was published on 18 August 2023.

In addition, the Scottish Government regularly engages with regional stakeholders including the North East Regional Economic Partnership to ensure that the Investment Zone continues to align with local economic priorities and maximises benefits for businesses and communities within the region. Further assessment and refinement of the financial modelling will continue as the Investment Zone proposals are developed through the Gateway process, to ensure its long-term success.

Food Standards Scotland has undertaken two major public health campaigns on reducing foodborne illness in Scotland. Evaluations that were commissioned to assess the impact of these campaigns were positive in terms of visibility, reach and impacts on reported behaviours.

• The Pink Chicken campaign ran during the Summer of 2016 and aimed to increase awareness of, and reduce complacency about, the risks of food poisoning when cooking chicken outdoors over the summer season, particularly when barbecuing with family and friends. The key results and evaluation of this campaign can be read here Case_study-_Summer_Food_Safety_campaign.pdf.
• The Kitchen Crimes campaign in 2018 focussed on food safety behaviours and how consumers can make small changes in the kitchen to keep them and their family safe from the food they prepare and eat. The key results and evaluation of this campaign can be read here FSS 'Kitchen crimes' Food Safety Campaign 2018 - Evaluation | Food Standards Scotland.

In addition we have run smaller, more targeted campaigns to promote awareness of the risks of foodborne illness to the over 65 age group and good food safety practices when preparing and serving food over the Christmas period.

• In 2023, we ran a targeted campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with Campylobacter infection for those aged 65+. This campaign encouraged consumers who may be particularly vulnerable to campylobacter infection (the most commonly occurring cause of foodborne illness) to adopt safer food safety practices, particularly when it comes to the handling and cooking of chicken. This campaign tested the dissemination of information on Campylobacter on posters displayed in supermarket settings, and leaflets which provided food safety messaging alongside chicken recipes. We also engaged with people in this age group in assisted living premises, and ran focus groups to assess levels of understanding and get a better understanding of the format and channels of advice and information that is preferred by this age group and likely to have the most positive impact on food hygiene behaviours in the home. The evaluation of this campaign was not published but the findings are being used alongside outputs from our social research programme which will support the development of our future campaigns to communicate food safety messaging to segments of the population in Scotland which may be more vulnerable to foodborne illness.
• For Christmas 2021 we ran a food safety campaign reminding people about the risks of food poisoning over the festive period – focussing on the different food behaviours that people tend to adopt during the holiday e.g. over-stocking their fridges, catering for larger groups than usual, eating leftovers, and serving buffet style meals (with food left at room temperature for prolonged periods) . The campaign evaluation found that the it was well received, with good brand cut through and 82% of consumers questioned about the impact of our adverts saying that they took action to change their behaviour after seeing them-particularly around ensuring their turkey was cooked thoroughly and using leftovers safely.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is responsible for advising the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Ministers and other stakeholders in relation to food safety and compositional standards matters in Scotland – this includes the provision of food safety advice in areas that were previously regulated at an EU level when the UK was an EU Member State. FSS consults extensively with the Food Standards Agency before advising Ministers of the need to amend or introduce any food safety legislation in Scotland. This is undertaken in line with the provisionally agreed Common Framework for Food Safety and Hygiene.

A joint UK wide public consultation on fairer food labelling ran for 8 weeks from 12 March 2024 to 7 May 2024. The purpose of this consultation was to seek opinion on specific options in respect of method of production labelling, but it also provided an opportunity to gather evidence and opinions in respect of country-of-origin labelling. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are continuing to engage on this work alongside Scottish Government policy colleagues and on a four-country basis to determine next steps.

The Operational Delivery Division in Food Standards Scotland has a contingency plan for all meat plants in Scotland. This ensures a continuous service of Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) and Official Veterinarians (OVs) and to minimise disruption to supply chains during times of severe weather, industrial action, or other extraordinary events.

Food Standards Scotland was established in April 2015 as the public sector food body for Scotland, to protect the health and wellbeing of consumers through three objectives set under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015. FSS has a unique

role in government, working independently of Ministers and industry, to provide advice which is impartial, and based on robust science and data. The Act includes a statutory objective to improve the extent to which members of the public have diets conducive to good health.

Since 2015 FSS have advised government policy regarding dietary improvements as outlined in the following Board papers which are published here: Board meetings | Food Standards Scotland.

A number of the recommendations outlined within the Board papers have been incorporated into Scottish Government policies and action plans including the Diet and Healthy weight delivery and Out of Home action plans. An overview of their public health nutrition strategy is available here: Public Health Nutrition Strategy | Food Standards Scotland which sets out their approach to addressing the statutory objective to improving the diet. It signals a greater focus on measures to influence the food environment supporting healthier and more sustainable options for consumers.

Local Authorities check for compliance with allergen law during food law interventions at food businesses. It is not possible for Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to determine the number of breaches. However, 127 allergen incidents have been reported to FSS Incidents team since 1st April 2019. Since 1st April 2019, FSS has issued 455 allergy alerts (26 were drafted and issued by FSS), most of these alerts were drafted and issued by Food Standards Agency but were mirrored by FSS as there was distribution of implicated products to Scotland.

While the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland, currently there is no community audiology service in place, with services provided either in hospital settings or, if patients choose to self-refer for treatment privately on the high street. There has therefore been no assessment of private provision made.

The Scottish Government do not hold information if individual Boards have engaged with private companies in support of waiting lists.