Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14615 on 6 March 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/questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government understands concerns over the decline of European woodcock populations. At present, all woodcock in Scotland are classed as a quarry species and as such are listed on Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which determines the species that can be killed or taken.

As set out in my response to PQ S6W-14320, NatureScot are currently carrying out a review of Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Once the review has been completed, they will provide a report to the Scottish Government for Ministers to consider whether any changes to the Schedule are required.

The Learning Estate Investment Programme’s (LEIP) outcomes Governance Board, which is co-chaired by Scottish Government and COSLA, scrutinises all aspects of the LEIP on an ongoing basis.

The LEIP has undergone a Gateway Review Strategic Assessment, the recommendations of which have been implemented across the LEIP. A further Gateway Review will commence this month.

Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) provides expertise, for example, in programme and data management, schools design, as well as commercial and financial modelling, and the Scottish Government engages regularly with SFT on ongoing management of the LEIP. SFT also managed the previous Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme which saw the construction of 117 new or refurbished schools and benefited over 60,000 pupils across the country.

There is no licensing scheme regulating the shooting of woodcock in Scotland. Resident and migratory woodcock can only be shot during the open season, which is between 1 September and 31 January, as set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Outwith these dates, woodcock cannot be taken or killed.

The Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) currently comprises of thirty-seven projects. One school project is complete and eight are currently in construction, with the remainder in development by the local authorities. Projects are delivered locally, with a central programme function consisting of design and technical expertise, as well as budget, programme and risk management to support the programme and continue to foster collaboration. Many of the projects are also working in collaboration with other aspects of the public sector with the inclusion of sports, community, NHS and Police Scotland facilities.

The LEIP is subject to the Gateway Review process. In relation to individual projects, post-project reviews and post-occupancy evaluations are required under the LEIP terms and conditions, learning from which will be collated and disseminated to understand if other elements of the programme can also be expanded across other sectors.

The funding model for LEIP has evolved from the concept of the Growth Accelerator model developed by Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Government, and adapted for the Learning Estate. The aspects that have worked well from both the Growth Accelerator and Learning Estate models - particularly the premise that central funding is for the outcomes investment can achieve, rather than the investment itself - have then been used in the development of the Green Growth Accelerator model, which is currently in use.

The Scottish Government does not provide specific funding to local authorities to support breakfast and after school clubs which are struggling financially. Local authorities have flexibility to allocate the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities. In 2023-24 local authorities have autonomy to allocate over 93% - £12.5 billion – of the funding provided by the Scottish Government, plus all locally raised income.

The Learning Estate Investment Programme’s (LEIP) outcomes-based funding model was designed by Scottish Government, Local Government and Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). The funding model was established to support the implementation of the Learning Estate Strategy which was produced was produced collaboratively by Scottish Government and Local Government. The concepts, principles and outcomes for the LEIP, as well as the mechanics of the funding model, were agreed in workshops between Scottish Government, Local Government and SFT, under the governance of an investment programme board which was co-chaired by Scottish Government and COSLA.

The use of the LEIP funding model and the associated outcomes have been ratified by COSLA Leaders, and further information on the mechanics of the model are published and available on SFT’s website.

The LEIP board, which meets quarterly, is co-chaired by Scottish Government and COSLA. The board has membership and representation from Scottish Government, COSLA, SOLACE, Local Authority networks and SFT. This governance structure provides oversight and direction to the LEIP - including on the outcomes to be measured, the assessment process for projects and the funding model - as the programme has developed.

We continue to engage with local authorities on an ongoing basis, including workshops on the funding model for each phase of the LEIP, and dedicated workshops with local authorities for each project.

Avian influenza viruses remain predominantly a pathogen that affects birds with a small number of cases of mammals being infected worldwide. Evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission in the wild remains very limited and the available genomic surveillance data reported by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK does not suggest widespread mammalian adaption of the virus.

The infection of mammals with influenza of avian origin remains uncommon, including in humans. Public Health Scotland (PHS), who lead on public health responses, have established processes in place should a human case of avian influenza be reported in Scotland, in line with any other notifiable disease.

The Scottish Government are working closely with PHS, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on avian flu. Work undertaken by PHS to date includes; contributing to, and adopting interim guidance on the management of contacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 and participating in the UKHSA national incident management team, and a 4 Nations Operational Avian Influenza Subgroup.

PHS are also part of the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group. HAIRS is a multi-agency cross-government horizon scanning and risk assessment group, which acts as a forum to identify and discuss infections with potential for interspecies transfer (particularly zoonotic infections). PHS contribute to risk assessments on avian influenza led from there, including on the risk of avian influenza from mammals.

The following table details the precision medicines accepted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium where the companion diagnostic test is not yet offered by NHS Scotland laboratories, and the anticipated roll-out of the appropriate test.

Validation is required for every companion diagnostic test to ensure the accuracy of the test meets the indication required. A number of tests have completed validation and are currently awaiting implementation throughout the course of 2023. We continue to work with key partners, such as the Scottish Strategic Network for Genomics Medicine (SSNGM), to ensure there is capacity within laboratories for companion diagnostics tests.

*Olaparib (SMC2366) for the treatment of prostate cancer

**Olaparib (SMC2368) for the treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer requires two companion diagnostics tests in order for patients to access the treatment. One of the tests, BRCA, is available in NHS Scotland labs, however, the other, HRD, is not available due to its complexity. While testing isn’t available in NHS laboratories, it is available through an alternative provider ensuring patients can still access the medicine.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information at this level of detail. Latest published Scottish Government annual estimates on demolitions from 1999-00 up to the year 2020-21 are available on the Housing statistics: Conversions and demolitions webpage. This information is provided by local authorities but does not include a breakdown by houses or flats.

Note that these estimates are not considered comprehensive. Estimates of demolitions of local authority housing are thought to be generally accurate, however local authorities differ in their ability to provide comprehensive estimates of demolitions of private sector and housing association homes. As such, these estimates should be considered as the minimum level of demolition activity in Scotland.