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The internal review is focused on the procedures and policies set out in the Chief Executive Framework section of the Public Sector Pay Policy Technical Guide for public bodies and government officials. The report is being finalised and Ministers have still to consider the recommendations, including any publication arrangements. Any agreed recommendations will be included in a renewed Chief Executive Framework.

Scottish Government loss and damage funding of £10m is fully committed for the lifetime of this parliament, through to 2026.

We will utilise learning from our programmes to demonstrate to the world that funding loss and damage can take many forms, which we hope will inspire other governments, organisations and NGOs to be equally aspirational in their work to address loss and damage.

On aviation, the Scottish Government continues to explore all options to implement Air Departure Tax (ADT) in a way that protects Highlands & Islands connectivity and complies with the UK Government’s subsidy control regime. A Frequent-Flyer Levy has previously been discounted on the grounds that it would be disproportionately resource-intensive to administer. Upon implementation, the Scottish Government’s Air Departure Tax will apply to all affected flights, but without the need for recording the number of flights an individual has taken.

As a well-respected Global North Government, we continue to engage in discussions with governments, organisations and NGOs around the world who are also eager to ensure action on loss and damage is suitably funded. We continue to build meaningful and lasting international partnerships to mobilise action and ambition, and find solutions to address some of the key climate change issues; including through our position as co-chair of the Under 2 Coalition and engagement via the Regions4 Network.

The Scottish Government will continue to use its position to amplify the voices of the Global South and address the unequal impacts of climate change on marginalised people, especially young people and women. We continue to push for global ambition, recognising that $650m dollars of pledges so far is significant, but insufficient.

As part of the 2023- 24 COVID-19 and flu winter vaccination programme NHS Scotland delivered over 3.57 million winter vaccines, including 1,387,766 COVID-19 vaccines. Uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines dropped across all groups, but remained strong in the highest risk groups, with 85.6% of care home residents and 84.1% of those aged over 75 vaccinated which we know from recent statistics are the groups mostly likely to be admitted to hospital.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is responsible for delivering Scotland’s Infectious Respiratory Diseases Plan 2023–2024 (publichealthscotland.scot) with the support of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) has already undertaken various pieces of work to understand why uptake has decreased, and this is part of an ongoing drive to ensure that people can take up offers of vaccine easily and equitably. Should the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommend a 2024 winter COVID-19 programme, we shall incorporate that learning into planning for any future campaign.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is responsible for COVID-19 surveillance. Given the recent increase in circulation of COVID-19 observed in Scotland, PHS has returned to weekly updates to their viral respiratory dashboard from 27 June 2024 ( COVID-19 & Respiratory Surveillance (shinyapps.io) .Periodic peaks in COVID-19 are expected, not just in the winter.

COVID-19 is not a seasonal virus and circulates all year around and with the vaccine optimum protection period lasting up to 3 months, it remains essential that those who are eligible, come forward for vaccination when offered.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for this information.

The Scottish Government is committed to measures which deliver an available, affordable and accessible public transport system which enables people to make positive and proactive choices to use public transport. ScotRail continue to develop fares initiatives which can help attract more passengers, while offering savings and added value to existing rail users such as the recently extended ScotRail Peak Fares Removal Pilot.

The final evaluation report will be undertaken before the Pilot ends. The final report will include data on the time passengers are travelling, by location and by socioeconomic background.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for this information.

The Fair Fares Review was undertaken to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the future long-term viability of a public transport system that is accessible, available, and affordable for people throughout Scotland.

The review considered the scope of both the Young Persons’ Scheme and Older and Disabled Persons Scheme, which provide free bus travel and were established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Fair Fares Review was published on 22 March 2024 and is available on the Transport Scotland website Fair Fares Review | Transport Scotland .

The Scottish Government welcomes the results of the More in Common survey. Nature is important to everyone. It is our world’s life support system. The twin crises of climate change and nature loss need urgent action across Government and society. The 2023 State of Nature report for Scotland shows the effect that a changing climate is having on our natural world. We face twin reinforcing crises – a decline in biodiversity will make the climate crisis worse and a changing climate will increase the rate of biodiversity loss. Halting and reversing biodiversity loss is critical for adapting to climate change and to ensure we can all continue to enjoy nature's benefits, on which we all depend.

The evidence tells us that Scotland, in common with the rest of the UK, has not done enough over the last 20 years to prevent the continuing decline in biodiversity. We remain firmly committed to tackling the twin crises by taking decisive actions to protect and restore the natural environment. Our ambitious new biodiversity strategy sets out our goals to halt nature loss by 2030 and reverse it by 2045 and provides a long-term vision of what our natural environment needs to look like in order to reverse biodiversity decline. We have committed to invest at least an additional £500 million in the natural economy over the course of this Parliament. Our £65 million Nature Restoration Fund is a key lever in delivering our Biodiversity Strategy, alongside investment in nature-based solutions, like peatland restoration and woodland creation, to tackle the twin crises, and create green jobs.

The Scottish Government’s recent investment into diabetes technologies will allow all children living with Type 1 diabetes to get access, should they want it. This funding will also support increased provision to adults. Exact numbers in each NHS board area will be determined by local delivery plans being developed by NHS boards, working with the National Diabetes Technologies team in the Centre for Sustainable Delivery, based on waiting lists, staff capacity and affordability.

The new investment from the Scottish Government to support new access to technologies is in addition to baseline funding provided to NHS boards. It is not being allocated to boards to pay for their current delivery plans.