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The practice level workforce survey was administered on behalf of The Scottish Government by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). A closing date of 31 July was set for responses. Analysis of the data is ongoing and while no specific date has been set NES are working towards a publication date towards the end of October.

The minimum number of road workers that are required to be onsite at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful is 5 and 6 at the Old Military Road.

The cycle time is around 20 minutes although this can vary depending on how busy it is or if there are breakdowns or the like.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30024 on 1 October 2024. 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.

Every life lost to alcohol is a tragedy and the recent alcohol specific deaths statistics, published by the National Records of Scotland, is a stark reminder of the challenge we face in tackling alcohol harm across Scotland.

The Scottish Government commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) to deliver independent evaluation of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP). That evaluation estimated that MUP had reduced alcohol specific deaths by 13.4%, compared to what would have been the case if MUP wasn’t in place. A letter published in the Lancet authored by a number of internationally renowned public health experts stated that, “policy makers can be confident that there are several hundred people with low income in Scotland who would have died as a result of alcohol, who are alive today as a result of minimum unit pricing.”

The Scottish Government is continuing to develop work on the range of options to consider the uprating of minimum unit pricing in future. As part of that activity the Scottish Government will consider the appropriate way to continue to review the effects and impacts of MUP. Appropriate stakeholder engagement will be undertaken with industry, business and public health stakeholders in advance of any decisions on uprating being taken.

To date 17 homes have been approved through the demand-led Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund. This includes 7 homes in Highland, 7 homes in Orkney, 2 homes in Moray and 1 home in North Ayrshire. More Homes Division officials are in discussion with local authority partners on a number of other potential projects.

We are continuing to engage with all local authorities through Scotland Housing Network’s Local Housing Strategy Forum to encourage proposals to be forward where there are identified local requirements.

The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the thrombectomy service, and to ensuring that access to this treatment is as equitable as possible. We recognise, however that achieving an equitable service access across diverse geographical areas is challenging. That is why the Scottish Government has asked the National Thrombectomy Planning Board (NTPB) to plan a phased approach to service expansion, to ensure that all plans and decisions consider the access requirements of patients, and reflect the appropriate workforce, infrastructure and resourcing required across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed, through our draft palliative care strategy, to work with Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) and adult independent hospice organisations to develop a national guidance framework to support and improve consistency of local planning and commissioning of independent hospice services.

The Scottish Government continues to work with Integration Joint Boards (IJB) Chief Officers and adult independent hospice organisations to support longer-term sustainable planning and commissioning for the sector, and officials will take forward plans to develop a new national guidance framework.

There have been no occasions where there have been insufficient staff to operate the convoy.

The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to commission further research in relation to student housing.