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The decision to escalate or de-escalate an NHS Board is based on a combination of evidence. Escalation addresses complex issues and an element of judgement will always be required. In order to support robust decision-making in this sphere, the Scottish Government regularly convenes the National Planning and Performance Oversight Group which considers a range of data and intelligence relating to the delivery of health and social care across Scotland and the performance of our health boards. Should there be a requirement to escalate any additional NHS Boards, for any reason, I will update Parliament in the first instance.

Work has been undertaken throughout 2022 to scope a Clyde Metro Programme Level Business Case. This is being undertaken collaboratively, led by Transport Scotland and its partners Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. A Delivery Plan will be prepared following the completion of the Programme Level Business Case.

Ministerial engagements and expenses, including those for overseas travel, are proactively published by the Scottish Government three months in arrears in line with the Ministerial Code. This can be accessed via the Scottish Government website .

Travelling to other countries allows Ministers to promote Scotland, build relationships and boost investment - including emphasising the Scottish Government's role in working with partners to support Scottish companies.

The cost of flights for those accompanying me, up to and including trips proactively published on the SG website, are listed below.

Ministerial engagements and expenses, including those for overseas travel, are proactively published by the Scottish Government. This can be accessed via the Scottish Government website .

I made no international trips as a Minister between my appointment in May 2021 and 31 December 2021.

The Scottish Government and its agencies support many of our festivals and events in a multitude of ways as set out in the following table:

Financial Support – financial year 2022-23

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of day services to both those who use them and to their families and carers and has been working closely with local areas to ensure that services are delivered safely. Revised guidance for buildings-based day services was published on 26 May 2022 and 28 September 2022. The guidance says that such services should return to pre-pandemic capacity wherever possible, while operating safely in line with COVID-19 guidance.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) was commissioned to gather and provide insights into different approaches to the redesign of learning disability day services, recognising the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for service users, their families and service providers. A range of methods have been used to progress this programme of work including national learning sessions, connections sessions and focus groups. As a result, services have collaborated with people who use services, families, carers and disabled people's organisations to develop new community-based approaches to day service provision. Information on the work currently being undertaken can be found on the ihub website at: New Models for Learning Disability Day Support Collaborative | Healthcare Improvement Scotland - New Models for Learning Disability Day Support Collaborative (ihub.scot)

This programme of work concludes at the end of March 2023 and a final report will be published on the ihub website.

As of 12th December 2022 there are:

(a) 7 posts in the Alcohol Harm Prevention Team, all posts are currently filled

(b) 4 posts in the Alcohol Treatment Policy Team, with 3 posts filled

(c) 46 posts in the Drugs Policy Division, with 44 posts filled

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling gender based violence and ensuring that all victims and survivors can access the help and support they need at a time they need it.

During the United Nations 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence, the Scottish Government held a spotlight event with key partners, focussed on gender based violence and mental health. These important discussions will help further our understanding of issues faced by women and girls affected by GBV and will help inform on-going policy development, including the refreshed Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, accompanying delivery plan, our Workforce Action Plan and the new national Specification for Psychological Therapies and Interventions.

We know that some psychological interventions, including counselling, are delivered by partner organisations, including small, local community grassroots groups and organisations . Therefore, in 2021-22 we have invested £21m in our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults. We have provided a further £15m in 2022-23.

Since 2018, the Scottish Government has invested over £5 million in a National Trauma Training Programme (NTTP), including a total of £3.2 million of funding distributed to all local authorities in 2021-22 and 2022-23 to work with community planning partners to further progress trauma-informed services, systems and workforces.

Current COVID-19 priorities include Test and Protect, vaccinations and PPE provisions.

In line with the Test and Protect transition plan, testing remains in place to support patient treatment and care, protect those in highest risk settings, monitor prevalence and the risk of new variants, and respond to outbreaks.

Covid-19 and extended flu vaccination programmes also continue to provide protection for at-risk cohorts and to help control the spread of the virus. Vaccination programmes may also require acceleration depending on Covid-19 prevalence.

Similarly, PPE provision continues to be informed by infection prevention and control guidance. NHS NSS currently hold sufficient pandemic PPE stock to supply NHS Scotland well into 2023-24 based on current usage rates. Social Care PPE provision continues to be available in case of emergency PPE being required and for unpaid carers and personal assistants.

We are currently reviewing the F-gas Regulation jointly with the UK and Welsh Governments. We will publish an assessment report on the efficacy of the Regulation in the coming weeks.

Following the report, we will jointly consider policy options to ensure our regulations continue to support our ambitious Net Zero targets. As part of this, we will also consider other important issues including leakage incidents. We expect to publish a joint consultation on these future policy proposals in due course.