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The digital infrastructure requirements for the Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP) are currently being explored in conjunction with our partners Public Health Scotland (PHS) and National Services Scotland (NSS). A report and roadmap will be considered with our partners in summer 2023 and will ensure all potential options are fully scoped and costed. This will enable the recommendation of preferred solutions for a future vaccination and immunisation system which meets the needs of the people of Scotland.

This is an operational matter for NatureScot. I have asked their Chief Executive to write with the relevant information.

Food Standards Scotland recommends following a healthy balanced diet as represented by The Eatwell Guide . Doing so will increase consumption of vegetables, pulses and wholegrains and will likely reduce the consumption of less healthy food and drink. The Eat Well Your Way website supports people to make small and manageable changes to improve their diet.

Scottish Government is supporting a range of actions set out in our 2018 Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan to encourage people to include more vegetables, pulses and wholegrains in their diet.

For example, we fund the Healthy Living Programme which helps 2,400 convenience stores to increase the range, availability, quality and affordability of fresh produce and healthier products from other categories, especially in areas of higher deprivation.

We also provide funding to Community Food Networks to promote a range of services such as cooking classes, benefit checks, ‘grow-your-own’ food groups, cafés and food pantries.

Our Parent Club website provides free advice on healthy eating, as well as low-cost recipe ideas to support people and families prepare healthier meals.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have recently changed their measurement of Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) expenditure which has led to significant uplift revisions to BERD expenditure estimates. Work is currently underway between the Scottish Government and the ONS to further quality assure the new methodology; once this work is complete the Scottish Government will consider target setting options. The Scottish Government's recently published National Innovation Strategy will monitor a range of metrics to track progress over the next decade through its Innovation Scorecard, including tracking Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) spend and BERD spend.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18745 on 21 June 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

It is the responsibility of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) to plan and commission adult palliative and end of life care services for their areas using the integrated budgets under their control. My officials are therefore engaged with Health and Social Care Partnerships and Scottish hospice sector representatives in relation to issues around funding.

I am meeting with the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group and Hospice UK on 13 September, and my officials continue to communicate and engage with hospice representatives meantime.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18899 on 21 June 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

Childminding Development Officers (CDOs) are employees of the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) who work with Local Authorities where contracts exist between the relevant Local Authority and the SCMA.

The SCMA currently employ 9 CDOs, two of whom are Senior CDOs, spanning 9 Local Authority areas, including; Aberdeen, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Lothian.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02330 on 7 June 2023. The answer to oral Parliamentary Question is available on the Parliament's website, the Official Report can be viewed at: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-07-06-2023?meeting=15356&iob=130954

The Community Health Index (CHI) has been in place since the 1970s. We are in the process of modernising and upgrading the system that runs the CHI, which acts as the master patient index for the whole of the NHS. As such, the new CHI system requires careful implementation to safely and seamlessly join up hundreds of data flows. It is now in limited use for some elements of health data. The new system is expected to be fully operational in Autumn 2023.