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We are committed to delivering a National Care Service (NCS) to improve quality, fairness and consistency of provision that meets individuals’ needs. The NCS will have equality, dignity and human rights at its heart and will empower people across Scotland to make the choices that are right for them.

In the current system an individual can defer payment of part of their contribution to care home fees to avoid the need to sell their homes up front to meet these costs, this is a legal agreement between the individual and the council. Within the current system there are also provisions in place in the form of set capital levels to ensure an individual is not be charged more than the assessed level of resource they have.

There is no recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties. Policy 11: Energy of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) states that potential impacts on communities, nature and other receptors will be important considerations in the decision-making process. Additionally, the policy requires that project design and mitigation demonstrate how impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker and cumulative impacts will be addressed. All applications are subject to site-specific assessments.

Cumulative impacts are specifically referenced in Policy 11 and are a consideration in the determination of wind farm proposals. Furthermore, Planning Circular 1/2017: Environmental Impact Assessment regulations sets out guidance relating to the consideration of cumulative effects.

The majority of planning appeals are decided by reporters from Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Government. Whilst Scottish ministers have the power to recall an appeal for their own decision, they would normally only do so in appeals that raise issues of national importance.

Windfarm appeal decisions are made on the planning merits of the case and in overall accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Reporters take full account of all submissions made by parties, including any representations from members of the local community. The reporter will carry out an inspection of the appeal site and surrounding area.

Professor Britton’s 2018 Investigative Review gave 46 recommendations regarding the process of establishing, managing and supporting Independent Reviews in Scotland.

We accepted and agreed with the vast majority of her conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations have already been reflected in a number of inquiries and reviews established in recent years. We are also developing guidance to support inquires and reviews that will build upon Professor Britton’s recommendations and hope to publish that shortly.

Removing the stigma attached to problem drug use and harmful drinking in Scotland is a key part of our alcohol and drug strategy.

In January 2023, we published the Stigma Action Plan as part of the cross-government response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce final report, aimed at tackling the stigma of substance use. The Action Plan has multiple strands of work to tackle public stigma and the institutional barriers that people face in accessing services and support, including in entering education and employment and in being able to achieve the best level of health and wellbeing.

We will shortly begin a co-design phase on the details of the actions outlined in the plan and will be engaging with partners and stakeholders in the drug and alcohol sectors.

We are supporting the development of the forthcoming UK-wide alcohol treatment guidelines, led by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The guidance will look to introduce new approaches to treatment, including non-stigmatising service delivery.

Scottish Government has not undertaken any recent assessment of the impact of health inequalities in relation to liver disease patients. However Public Health Scotland (PHS) published a report in November 2022 that examined average mortality rates from liver disease in Scotland, including analysis by deprivation levels.

The risk of liver cancer and liver disease is increased by the impacts of harmful behaviours such as alcohol use. The Scottish Government is determined to do all that we can to reduce alcohol-related harm, which continues to be one of the most pressing public health challenges that we face in Scotland.

The PHS evaluation of Minimum Unit Price published on 27 June 2023 shows around 150 alcohol attributable deaths and 400 alcohol attributable hospital admissions each year have been averted since the policy was introduced. The policy also contributes to reducing health inequalities, with the study showing that the largest reductions in deaths and hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on 4 July 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on‎ 29 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19355 on 29 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government is grateful to Professor Britton and her team for undertaking this review and we are pleased to receive her final report. It is important that we now take the time to consider Professor Britton's findings and the recommendations she has made. The recommendations will be discussed at the next meeting of Health Boards’ Transvaginal Mesh Accountable Officers, which is expected to take place in August. The accountable officers are a network of senior clinicians from Health Boards who have responsibility for mesh-related issues within their own Board and for ensuring that their colleagues are informed on matters accordingly.

Steps have already been that do address a number of the recommendations. These include making a mesh learning package available to GPs to offer them additional support to help them understand and address concerns women may raise with them following transvaginal mesh surgery. Steps are also being taken to enhance the information available to patients through the improvement of the Complex Mesh Surgical Service webpages and the development of a patient information leaflet.

The Government will continue to add to help for those whose lives have been impacted by mesh complications and to ensure they get the right treatment for them. We will continue to work closely with colleagues within the NHS to ensure that women can access the care that they need, are fully supported by their GP and other clinicians, and have the information they need to make informed decisions about their care.

Health Board colleagues will also continue to engage with women as they access the Glasgow specialist service and will use the feedback they receive to further develop and refine the care that is available. We want to ensure that satisfaction levels of women attending the NHS specialist service in Glasgow continue to grow and waiting times continue to fall.