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We know that alcohol misuse and obesity are the two main risk factors (together with blood borne viruses) that cause liver disease.

Research by the British Liver Trust shows that alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 60% of all liver disease. The latest alcohol-specific deaths statistics published by National Records of Scotland in August 2022 show that in 2021 alcoholic liver disease caused 795 deaths which is an increase of 36 compared to the previous year.

Living with obesity or being overweight is also linked with an increased risk of developing a non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD). According to the 2019 Scottish Health Survey , two-thirds of adults in Scotland were living with obesity or being overweight. Obesity prevalence in Scotland has remained relatively stable since 2008.

The Scottish Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the impact of either alcohol misuse or obesity on liver disease mortality rates in the West of Scotland.

However, we are determined to address Scotland’s problematic relationship with alcohol and unhealthy diet. We are in the process of reviewing the Minimum Unit Price and Alcohol Brief Interventions policies with an intention to consult on a range of potential alcohol marketing restrictions as we continue to implement the 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan .

The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of any proposed benefits of introducing compulsory microchipping of cats.

The Scottish Government is aware of the DEFRA consultation and report on the microchipping of cats which was published on 4 December 2021. The Scottish Government will give full and careful consideration to the outcomes of that consultation and the UK Government response in due course.

Patients referred by GPs or under investigation or diagnosed with brain cancer in NHS Ayrshire and Arran would be automatically referred to the specialist brain tumour service centre at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Statistics on patients waiting to receive treatment, after referral by a GP on the suspicion of a brain tumour are not held centrally by Scottish Government or Public Health Scotland (PHS).

Published statistics relating to the waits patients experience for new outpatient appointments and inpatient or day case admission, broken down by NHS Board and specialty, up to 31st March 2022, can be found in the link below. PHS does not hold information on the condition or diagnosis that patients are waiting to be seen for.

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-waiting-times-stage-of-treatment/ .

The Scottish Government consulted on proposals for reform of Legal Aid in Scotland between 27 June and 19 September 2019. The consultation sought views on developing a user centred, flexible and valued public service. Responses were received from across the legal profession, Scottish Women’s Aid and Victim Support Scotland. Analysis of the responses was published on 16 June 2020. There have been regular meetings with representatives of the legal profession; however, these have centred on support to the profession during the pandemic, issues connected to fees and attendant disruptive action. It is intended for more focused engagement to be undertaken, including with victims organisations to further develop the reform agenda.

We are committed to publishing a national framework for schools on addressing gender based violence. This work is being delivered by the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group who will also review existing resources and develop new resources where needed. We have also established the Gender Equality Taskforce in Education and Learning to identify ways in which systemic gender inequality in education can be eradicated. In accordance with the Bute House Agreement, in September 2021 the Gender Based Violence in Schools Working Group and the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Delivery Group met to consider existing work on addressing gender based violence in education settings and identify any gaps in the current approach. The minutes of this meeting can be found here . The Scottish Government have committed to commissioning an independent review following the completion of the work of both groups, which will consider the impact of the work, establish positive practice, and any further areas for improvement. In addition, we are taking forward a range of actions in schools such as teaching our children and young people about safe and healthy relationships through relationships, sexual health and parenthood education; and funding programmes, such as Mentors in Violence Prevention, aimed at reducing and preventing sexual harassment and violence in schools. Further and Higher Institutions are expected to adopt and adapt the Equally Safe in Higher Education Toolkit, assessing their own policies and practices against the Toolkit.

Keith Brown: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS is currently preparing a new Health & Wellbeing Strategy to address health inequality among prisoners. The Strategy is being drafted to align with the development of the SPS 2023-2025 Corporate Plan.

The Bella Centre in Dundee opened on 1 August and the Lilias Centre in Glasgow is due to open in October 2022.

HMP Stirling, Scotland’s new Women’s National Facility, is due to open by Summer 2023.

All 32 local authorities have access to the Scottish dog control database. The national database brings together the records of all dog control notices served by local authorities into a centralised national database for the first time to aid enforcement efforts across Scotland. The database is also accessible by Police Scotland to aid their role in enforcement activity relating to dog control.

There is considerable uncertainty in variables (e.g. crime levels, types of crime committed, previous histories of those accused of and sentenced for offences etc.) which impact on the decision-making within the criminal justice system in areas covered by the Bill's provisions. Also relevant is the independent nature of many of the component elements of the criminal justice system. As such, it is not possible to provide an analysis of the number of crimes, if any at all, estimated to be recorded if the Bill were to be enacted as currently drafted.

The financial memorandum for the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill outlines the estimated impact of all the provisions contained in the Bill.

Amongst other matters, the bail provisions in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill provide for a new bail test to be used by the court when assessing whether to grant bail to an accused person or remand them in custody. As the decision in any given case will continue to remain with the court and in light of the various uncertain factors that influence the court's decision-making e.g. levels of crime, types of crime committed, previous history of those accused of offences etc, it is not possible to provide an analysis of how the proportion of people charged with a crime who are granted bail might change as a result of the Bill's provisions.

The financial memorandum for the Bill outlines the estimated impact of all the provisions contained in the Bill. In particular, pages 2 to 14 provides details of the Scottish Government's estimates as to the financial impact of the bail provisions in the Bill.