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The last couple of years have seen input prices increase for pig farmers in Scotland. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has seen feed and fuel costs for pig farmers increase significantly. Through the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group we are working with other administrations to monitor the farmgate price.

It is positive that in recent months we have seen an uplift in pig prices but we recognise that many pig farms will still be making a loss per pig. We will continue to monitor the situation and engage with representatives of the sector.

We consulted, alongside the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland DAERA, on the contractual practices in the UK pig sector to understand whether contract reform could provide greater certainty to both pig producers and processors.

In 2021 and 2022 via the Pig Producers Hardship Support Scheme the Scottish Government provided funding to producers who had been affected by the temporary closure of the Quality Pig Processors plant at Brechin and the loss of the plant’s export licence to China. There were three tranches of the scheme deliver over £1.8 million in support.

The Scottish Government wants to reverse the rise in the number of households in temporary accommodation, and will prioritise action on the recommendations considered to have the biggest and most immediate impact on reducing this number. The Scottish Government will publish its response to the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group’s recommendations in due course.

An estimation of the costs to implement the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group's recommendations has not been carried out. As the task and finish groups are sub-groups of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group (HPSG), the implementation of the recommendations will be discussed with HPSG members and other bodies given the need for partnership working on action to reduce the use of temporary accommodation.

The Scottish Government welcomes the work undertaken by the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group, which will inform the Scottish Government's next steps. We are currently considering the report and will work with COSLA and Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group members to respond to the recommendations, prioritising actions that will have the greatest impact on reducing the numbers in temporary accommodation.

I can confirm that this programme was developed and nine Urology Nurse (non-medical) Advanced Practitioners with cystoscopy skills completed the programme in February 2023 and nine are due for completion February 2024.

The Scottish Government remains committed to exploring the implementation of HPV self-sampling, acknowledging the potential that it has to increase uptake levels and reduce barriers to cervical screening. As introducing a new screening test into the National Screening Programme is inherently complex, a working group has been convened to assess potential models and understand any required changes to the screening programme to support an initial roll-out. This work is being informed by emerging evidence from UK and global research, and will put us in a strong position to consider how any recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) can be implemented in Scotland.

While the NSC recognises the potential benefits of self-sampling, it has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend implementation. Studies are underway to gather further evidence, but it is not yet known when the NSC may make a positive recommendation. Additionally, it is unclear when the work to assess and validate a test for HPV self-sampling in the UK will be complete.

I can confirm a surveillance framework was introduced in February 2022 and this framework has been implemented in all Health Boards. The surveillance waiting lists have been re-validated and categorised by diagnosis and risk category. In addition, waiting list triage tools such as qFIT, and endoscopy alternatives such as Cytosponge, and Colon Capsule Endoscopy have been introduced.

The National Endoscopy Training Programme, launched in 2022, has supported 99 trainee endoscopists for basic courses to date. The programme has also supported 102 independent endoscopists with upskilling, and a further 24 senior trainee endoscopists with training and procedure numbers to support independent endoscopy certification.

There are also currently 222 trainee doctors within NHS Scotland across three training specialities who can perform, or are in training to perform, endoscopy; 32 in Urology, 47 in Gastroenterology and 147 in General Surgery.

National qFIT guidance for primary and secondary care was published in May 2022. Where this has been fully implemented, NHS Boards have evidenced a 70% reduction in colonoscopy urgent suspicion of cancer demand. National investigation guidance for iron deficiency anaemia, post-acute diverticulitis and oesophageal varices pathways have also been published and are currently being implemented by Health Boards. The National management guidance for haematuria has also been revised.

Furthermore, an IBD Surveillance Strategy has been developed and is being implemented by Health Boards.

Since November 2021 twenty Nurse (non-medical) Practitioners have completed the course for non-medical endoscopy with a further two due to complete the course in April 2023. There are currently also a further 18 in active training. All non-medical Practitioners who commenced the programme have completed or remain in active training.