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Scottish Government continue to implement the actions in the Coming Home Implementation Report, and work with COSLA to seek progress across the country. Local public bodies have the statutory responsibility for this and delivery rests with them – however we know this work takes time. We want people to be supported in a home that is right for them, which often and rightly requires a bespoke design and build, as well as recruitment and training of a care team tailored to the person.

Scottish Ministers are confident that the national work is putting in place improved systems and structures locally which are required to achieve real change. We launched new national Dynamic Support Registers in May 2023, which provide a mechanism for a new national data collection on people with learning disabilities and complex care needs.

This data is collected and published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) with the first report published in November 2023. This is a significant step forward that provides clarity on the number of people with learning disabilities and complex care needs who are in hospital and in out-of-area placements.

The latest Public Health Scotland publication reports on the census point of 28 September 2023. At that time, there were 1,243 people on the Dynamic Support Register of which, there were 86 delayed discharges and 130 out-of-area placements. Given this was the first publication of this data, care needs to be taken in early interpretation as data collection process embed and mature.

A further publication of updated figures taken from a census point of 28 March 2024 will be published by PHS on 28 May 2024.

The full November PHS report is available on the PHS website: Insights into learning disabilities and complex needs: statistics for Scotland - 28 November 2023 - Insights into learning disabilities and complex needs: statistics for Scotland - Publications - Public Health Scotland .

The public consultation on “Ending Conversion Practices in Scotland” which ran from 9 January 2024 until 2 April set out the Scottish Government’s proposals on defining prohibited conduct in legislation.

Consultation responses will be analysed and considered to inform future legislation to be introduced into Parliament.

Ophthalmology is a post-graduate specialism in medicine which does not involve universities, and as such no data exists with respect to university training places for this specialism. The Scottish Funding Council holds data regarding university training places for optometry.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26667 on 2 May 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/questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26656 on 1 May 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 .

The funding for the 38,000 apprentices in training is committed. SDS commenced contracting for up to 25,500 new Modern Apprenticeship opportunities at the start of April.

The Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for service delivery and treatment. A requirement has been placed within the NHS Territorial Boards annual delivery guidance to bring attention to the requirement for the Boards to consider transport to health for patients and ensure patients have access to information.

The Transport (Scotland) Act section 120 and 121 commenced in 2023, placing a requirement on Boards to work with community transport providers and consider the economic and social impacts of non-emergency patient transport.

The Scottish Government has undertaken extensive engagement with a range of faith and belief stakeholders throughout the development of proposals on ending conversion practices in Scotland and following the launch of our public consultation document on 9 January. This includes both individual and group meeting with faith-based organisations on at least 14 separate occasions since the launch of our consultation on 9 January 2024. In addition, a roundtable event specifically for faith and belief representatives was held on 3 April 2024, managed by independent, impartial external facilitators to support a free expression of views.

This engagement with faith and belief stakeholders has informed the development of our proposals, and feedback and consultation responses will be analysed and considered to inform future legislation to be introduced into Parliament.

Social Security Scotland is focused on making the right decision first time, whilst aiming to process all applications as quickly as possible.

Our Charter sets out a range of standards for our performance and each year we publish the Charter Measurement Framework to share how we are delivering against our Charter commitments. As part of this research, we invite feedback from our clients and stakeholders on our performance, through our annual client survey.

In addition, we have committed to processing Funeral Support Payment applications within 10 working days of receipt of a completed applications and to process Special Rules for Terminal Illness disability payment applications within seven working days.

All colleagues have agreed work objectives which are reviewed as part of our performance management process and are further supported to perform effectively through learning and development programmes. We also use system data and internal management information to promote continuous improvement.

We have for example taken extensive action to drive down processing times and have seen significant improvements. Latest published figures show that average processing times for Adult Disability Payment have fallen by almost 40%.

The Scottish Government has met with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) around the issue of insurance and we have been clear that we would expect responsible insurance companies to offer as much assistance as possible to residents affected by RAAC. The actual cover available will be dependent on the individual policies that homeowners have in place. Building insurance is designed to cover damage caused by defined perils such as storms or floods and would not cover building defects or maintenance issues that develop over time. Homeowners should still be able to claim on their insurance policies if they suffer damage from these perils.

The ABI has indicated that the majority of their members will not void insurance policies as a result of RAAC being identified and that households can expect to continue to be covered for the defined perils outlined in their policy. We have also been assured that insurers will consider the renewal of cover for properties with RAAC, but these may be less commercially attractive as their construction could present a risk of more extensive damage from a named peril. ABI advice remains that policy holders should consider their renewal needs early and may wish to shop around providers to find a policy that provides best value.