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The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Scottish Government does not currently collect data on people in supported accommodation, however Scottish Government are currently in the process of implementing a data collection which will provide some data on this.

The supported accommodation sector is complex and encompasses a range of different forms of accommodation, with different providers and meeting different needs. The UK Government has undertaken a substantial body of research on the provision of supported accommodation across Great Britain which we understand will shortly be published along with a consultation paper. When it is published we will consider this research carefully, and consider whether the Scottish Government needs to undertake further research or analysis.

The Equalities Action Plan (EAP) for Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland, published in December 2015, outlines the challenges to be addressed and the actions Skills Development Skills (SDS) will undertake with partners to improve the participation of under-represented groups within the MA programme. The plan can be found at: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/40691/2869_sds_equalities_action_plan_digital_v7.pdf

SDS will publish the first annual report on the EAP progress shortly. The report will identify the activity that SDS has been undertaking to attract disabled people to MAs; to support them in applying for MA vacancies; and to support Training Providers in optimising success for young disabled MAs. Specifically in relation to young people with hearing impairments, SDS has:-

• delivered deaf awareness training to Training Providers in partnership with the Academy of British Sign Language (BSL);

• created a number of support resources, including the Equalities Toolkit, which identify how an employer / Training Provider can take positive action in recruiting young deaf people;

• raised awareness of the additional funding that is available to young people taking up an MA opportunity through Access to Work Funds and the MA Access Fund. These can be used, for example, to pay for a BSL interpreter for an apprentice.

Additionally, SDS has developed Regional Resource Guides which signpost where training providers, employers and partners can access support for young deaf people locally (deaf organisations such as NDCS, Action on Hearing Loss and Deaf Action are listed).

We expect that mental health care and treatment will be delivered in a person-centred manner to meet each individual’s needs. That includes cases where the individual has a terminal illness.

On 18 December 2015, the Scottish Government published our Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care. One of the main aims in the Strategic Framework is to ensure that people with palliative and end of life care needs are supported by health professionals who are appropriately skilled to do so.

We are working with NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council to develop a new palliative and end of life care Educational Framework. This Framework will address the needs of the health and social care workforce, and will be focused on fostering an integrated and collaborative approach to educational provision.

The Audiology Services Advisory Group (ASAG) was established by the Scottish Government in 2003 to take forward the audiology modernisation programme. Following the successful completion of the work in December 2011, it was agreed that the Group’s functions would be best served operationally at NHS board level through the Heads of Audiology Services Group, which meets quarterly and is due to next meet in February 2017. The Scottish Government is currently considering the recommendation from Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s report, 'Time to raise the standards', on reconvening ASAG - see the answer to question S5W-04433 on 9 November 2016.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the services, support and care available to people with hearing loss through its national strategy ‘See Hear’. The strategy was jointly endorsed by COSLA and the Scottish Government allocated £2 million of funding, over two years, to support its implementation. The strategy is being delivered through local partnerships. Local leads are in place to identify priority areas and drive progress locally. In addition, the Scottish Government allocated a further £200,000 to the Scottish Lip Reading Strategy Group, between 2012-2015, to improve access to lip reading classes for adults with hearing loss in Scotland.

We expect that mental health care and treatment will be delivered in a person-centred manner to meet each individual’s needs. This includes in circumstances where a child has experienced the death of a parent or close relative, and is subsequently experiencing mental health issues.

For more information about what general action the Scottish Government is taking to support children and young people affected by bereavement, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01444 on 5 August 2016.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

On screening issues we are advised by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC), an independent expert advisory group which advises Ministers and the NHS in the four UK countries about all aspects of screening.

In January 2016, following a review of the evidence against strict criteria, the Committee concluded that a screening programme for hearing loss in older adults should not be introduced.

More information about the Committee's recommendation can be found at: http://legacy.screening.nhs.uk/hearing-adult

The UK NSC regularly reviews its recommendations on screening in light of new research evidence becoming available and we will give careful consideration to any change to the recommendation.

We expect that mental health care and treatment will be delivered in a person-centred manner to meet each individual’s needs. That includes cases where the individual is a carer for someone who has a terminal illness.

On 18 December 2015, the Scottish Government published our Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care. One of the main aims in the Strategic Framework is to ensure that people with palliative and end of life care needs are supported by health professionals who are appropriately skilled to do so.

We are working with NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council to develop a new palliative and end of life care Educational Framework. This Framework will address the needs of the health and social care workforce, and will be focused on fostering an integrated and collaborative approach to educational provision.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving the services, support and care available to people with hearing loss through its national strategy ‘See Hear’. A Lip Reading Strategy Group is in place and is chaired by Action on Hearing Loss Scotland. The Group will next meet on the 6 February 2017.

Data on the training of midwives and health visitors in NHS Scotland is not collated or held centrally.