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Between 1 January and 31 August 2023, COPFS instructed 4,460 post mortem examinations. Of those, 383 were conducted by way of a non-invasive examination.

Procurators Fiscal do not seek the consent of nearest relatives for a post mortem examination to be instructed. A post-mortem examination may be required to determine the cause of death, to ensure the circumstances surrounding the death are fully investigated and to exclude criminality. Whilst the views of the family will be sought and taken into account, the final decision as to whether it is necessary for a post mortem examination to be carried out is for the Procurator Fiscal as part of their independent role in investigating the person’s death. Any views expressed by relatives in relation to the conducting of a post mortem examination are recorded, usually within the report submitted by Police Scotland to the Procurator Fiscal. Further information cannot be provided as that would require a manual check to be made of every case where a post mortem examination was instructed.

While the decision regarding the necessity to instruct a post mortem examination is made by the Procurator Fiscal, and in certain deaths, such as homicides where criminality is being investigated, the Procurator Fiscal must specify certain requirements of the examination to ensure that any evidence obtained meets the required criminal standard, it is a matter for the pathologist, as the medical practitioner responsible for establishing the cause of death, to conduct the examination in the most appropriate manner to ascertain the cause of death accurately.

It is also a matter for the pathologist to decide, during the examination, whether it is necessary to obtain tissue samples in order for them to instruct further tests or examinations to clarify the cause of death. The pathologist will make the decision as whether any organs require to be removed during a post mortem examination for further testing, whether in the form of whole organs, or small samples from organs.

No samples that are retained are kept by COPFS and they are instead retained by the NHS as part of the deceased’s medical records.

COPFS keeps a record of all cases where a pathologist has decided that it is necessary to retain a whole organ during a post mortem examination. This record also includes details of when the organs are returned to the family of the deceased at the conclusion of examinations.

Work to develop the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill is drawing on a range of officials across the organisation who will contribute to varying extents as part of their wider responsibilities in supporting the Scottish Government. The exact number of officials contributing as part of their wider responsibilities cannot be set out as the Scottish Government has no need to record this information.

I am delighted that the Bill has now been introduced to Parliament. This marks the culmination of a wealth of work undertaken in the past 18 months by Ms Mackay and her team, supported by the Scottish Government. Whilst introduction is a significant milestone for the Bill, I am mindful that it is one step in the Parliamentary journey and there will be considerable work ahead. The Scottish Government will continue to offer Ms Mackay every support as that work progresses.

Fair work is the responsibility of all Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers across Government, but the responsibility for fair work in the culture sector sits with me.

However, the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy maintains overall policy responsibility for Fair Work.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21436 on 9 October 2023. 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 .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21436 on 9 October 2023. 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 .

In March 2023, the Scottish Government commissioned a literature review to assess the evidence on health impacts of low level air pollution in countries with ambient air pollution levels comparable to Scotland. Following publication of this literature review, which will take place before the end of 2023, views will be sought from the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 health working group on whether additional research is needed to aid further understanding of health impacts.

As indicated in the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 2022-23 annual progress report, which was published on 27 September 2023, these discussions will be completed by spring 2024.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

Safety camera resources are primarily deployed in locations where they have the greatest potential to reduce injury collisions, and where there is evidence of both collisions and speeding. Safety cameras deployments are aimed at improving driver behaviours, leading to enhanced levels of speed limit compliance and ultimately resulting in fewer people being killed or injured on Scotland’s roads including trunk roads and main roads located within or close to local communities. This supports the delivery of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 and its overarching vision of ensuring Scotland has the best road safety performance in the world.

An annual site prioritisation process is undertaken each year to determine new safety camera sites across our road network. This national exercise acts to ensure the right camera technology is in the right place at the right time. It involves a range of partners including the three regional safety camera units, all thirty-three road authorities and Police Scotland, and acts to identify potential new camera sites which meet the minimum criteria, while at the same time assessing the performance of existing enforcement strategies.

The Scottish Government strongly condemns hoax calls to our emergency services. We continue to fully support the action taken by the Scottish Ambulance Service to report malicious or nuisance callers, when appropriate, to the police who will investigate and act accordingly.

A co-ordinated approach is needed from all services including local councils, support services and the statutory emergency services to work to reduce these calls.

The duty to provide free school meals to eligible pupils, education authorities have the power to provide meals on a discretionary basis to those who they believe require it. The Scottish Government would continue to urge local authorities to continue to resolve any payment issues without withdrawing meals from pupils.