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The information requested on how many NHS Scotland staff are currently employed in primarily equality and diversity-focused roles, and how much of the NHS budget has been allocated towards employing equality and diversity staff in each year since 2020 is not centrally available.

This is a matter for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.

(a) In 2014, the Deputy First Minister committed to re-opening the Fund and provided £5.5 million per annum to enable ILF to re-open to new applicants for the first time since 2010.Through an extensive process of co-production, the ILF Scotland Transition Fund was developed as an alternative to re-opening the 2015 Fund. The Transition Fund was designed to support young disabled people with the transition to adult life. This entirely new fund opened to applications in December 2017.

(b) The Cabinet Secretary wrote to the ILF Scotland Board on 16 December 2022, 26 January 2023 and 27 February 2023 stating his support for ILF Scotland but indicating that re-opening the 2015 Fund could only progress when affordability and sustainability could be assured.

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care wrote to the Chair of ILF Scotland’s Advisory Group on 23 January 2023 stating that he remains committed to re-opening the 2015 Fund but is unable to do so due to financial constraints.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in Scotland are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put people at the centre of their care.

In regards to the Scotland-specific overview, I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13419 on 23 January 2023.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government recognises that while more people are being diagnosed with cancer, more people are also being cured and living longer with the illness, thanks to the many new and established treatments now available. The increasing numbers of cases is also a simple reflection of the fact that people are, overall, living longer. Clearly our NHS remains under pressure, but more patients are being treated on cancer pathways than was the case prior to the pandemic.

The Scottish Government is developing a new 10 year cancer strategy to launch in Spring this year, which will take a comprehensive approach to improving patient pathways, from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and post-treatment care. This will be supported by an initial 3-year action plan.

The strategy will include a new earlier diagnosis vision for Scotland as well as a robust workforce strategy and ambitions aimed at strengthening research and innovation and eradicating inequalities.

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 Scottish Government, Health Boards and National Services Scotland (NSS) maintain regular contact on reducing single-use items in healthcare settings through the Sustainable Procurement Steering Group, which supports Boards transition to more circular supply practices.

A programme of work has been established to review the use of reusable alternatives and reduce the amount of single use Personal Protective Equipment used by Health Boards. This work looks at existing stock within NSS warehouses, current decontamination guidance and the capability of Health Board infrastructure to process reusable products. Where the use of reusable products is not possible, we aim to increase the number items that can be recycled at the end of their use.

National uniforms, bedding and textiles are all reusable and are laundered in house through NHS Scotland laundries, or in the case of uniforms and workwear, staff may launder at home.

The Scottish Government has spent £187,547 (£225,058 including VAT) on administering the Private Rented Sector Landlord Loan Scheme over the period 2019 to 2023, as set out in the following table. This funding has helped to install various measures across private rented properties, including many types of insulation, double glazing and air source heat pumps.

Energy efficiency and zero direct emissions heating is a priority for the Scottish Government to tackle low energy performance, to help to make the heating bills of those living in those homes more affordable and to make the homes warmer and greener.

Regulation of the nursing profession is reserved to the U.K. Parliament. Making the word “nurse” a protected title in law is problematic due to its historical use in a broader context than today’s graduate profession, as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Such protection would require an amendment to the Nursing and Midwifery Order (2001). SG is working closely with DHSC on a programme to modernise regulation of healthcare professions and the protection of titles will be carefully considered within this agenda.

In line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, and just like similar schemes around the world, Scotland’s deposit return scheme is being delivered and funded by industry, led by the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland. It is therefore the responsibility of individual businesses to procure any Reverse Vending Machines they may require.

The Scottish Government is aware of the points raised by the Church of Scotland (hereinafter ‘CoS’) and has been in regular and ongoing contact with CoS on these matters.

Officials met with representatives including the Church of Scotland in August last year, and I subsequently met with them in September. I did this to hear directly from CoS and others about their concerns and proposed solutions. Letters were sent to the Church of Scotland on 1 November 2022, 2 December 2022 and 17 January 2023 and, most recently, I wrote to CoS on 16 February.

The RCI was introduced on 1 April 2022, with unanimous cross-party support. Key stakeholders, including religious bodies, were involved in developing these regulations. Officials have thoroughly reviewed all of the options available to address the issues raised by the Church of Scotland, which arise primarily due to the large amount of property they own.

The Scottish Government introduced legislation to the Scottish Parliament on 23 January 2023 with the intention (subject to Parliamentary approval) of extending the transitional period by 12 months before offence provisions take effect. This decision was taken in response to the concerns raised by the Church of Scotland and others, fully understanding the current challenges in which all organisations including the charitable, third sector and faith and belief community are operating, owing to Brexit, Covid, and inflationary pressures. Should the Parliament approve the draft proposals, those in scope will have a further 12 months to comply with the requirements, in addition to the initial 12 month transitional period.

Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the process as early as possible, and give themselves plenty of time to register. The Scottish Government and Registers of Scotland are working together to continue raising awareness and help support stakeholders through the process. This will include a programme of additional awareness raising and reviewing the existing guidance.

The Scottish Government has offered the Church of Scotland the option of another meeting with Registers of Scotland and Scottish Government officials should they wish, to discuss how they can be supported to achieve compliance.