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Existing Environmental Science qualifications (available at National 3, National 4, National 5 and Higher) draw from the sciences and social sciences and take a problem-solving approach to attempt to develop solutions that prevent or reverse environmental deterioration and aim for sustainable practices.

Scottish Government is currently reviewing and strengthening the Learning for Sustainability Action plan. As part of this process, Scottish Government will invite SQA, who are responsible for the development of new qualifications, to consider whether the existing offer should be expanded.

Spending on active travel will increase throughout Scotland as we realise the Programme for Government commitment to increase the active travel budget to at least £320 million or 10% of the transport budget from 2024-25 onwards. The detail of how that significant increase in investment will apply in different local authority areas is still to be determined.

The Scottish Government supports all local authorities to deliver active travel through a variety of programmes including several run by third sector partners which local authorities can bid into and two direct funds – a LA resource fund of £2 million and a capital fund of £35 million (Cycling Walking and Safer Streets) both distributed pro rata this year across all 32 local authorities.

Scottish Government is working with NHS 24 and partners to develop a new Musculoskeletal (MSK) pathway, with particular consideration being given to digital options and a more preventative approach.

NHS 24 conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Helpline data on the use of the service as well as examining the service model. This will inform the development of a new pathway, with particular consideration being given to digital options and a more preventative approach.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09575 on 25 July 2022 for the next steps. 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 .

We know the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing structural inequality in society, putting minority ethnic and migrant communities disproportionately at risk and having more adverse impacts on their mental health. That is why we are undertaking a range of activity to specifically support their mental health and wellbeing. The Scottish Government’s Race Equality: Immediate Priorities Plan sets out our immediate priorities to implement the recommendations of the Expert Reference Group for Covid-19. In 2021-22 that included investing £21m into the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities faced by a range of ‘at risk’ groups including minority ethnic people. We also provided £150k to MECOPP and £20k to Progress in Dialogue to work in and with Gypsy/Traveller communities to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.

More generally, we are working to ensure everyone can access appropriate mental health care and continue to increase our investment in crucial services and infrastructure. Our Transition & Recovery Plan, backed by £120m of recurring funding is transforming services, with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention. We established an Equality and Human Rights Forum to provide advice on the implementation of the Transition and Recovery Plan and wider work within mental health policy, including the development of our new Mental Health Strategy. This Forum includes representation from minority ethnic groups.

The Scottish Government launched the Social Care Staff Support Fund on 25 June 2020 to ensure that social care workers receive their expected income should they be off ill or self-isolating due to coronavirus.

Staffing costs claimed through sustainability payments encompass the Social Care Staff Support Fund, the staff movement policy and other additional staffing arrangements therefore, we do not have data broken down to the level that you have requested. The guidance for the financial support for social care providers recommends a light touch approach to gathering evidence, recognising the administrative burden of claiming additional costs on both commissioners and providers alike, whilst they respond to the pandemic.

Feedback from stakeholders confirms that the Social Care Staff Support Fund has been utilised to prevent financial hardship for eligible social care workers.

The information that has been requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Official statistical reports relating to the Scottish Ambulance Service can be found on the following link. Public Health Scotland .

We remain committed to increasing the number of GPs working in Scotland by at least 800 by 2027. We have taken a number of actions, including launching our GP recruitment marketing campaign last month, increasing the number of medical places at universities, and taking steps to encourage medical graduates to choose general practice. To that end, between 2015-16 and 2021-22 the Scottish Government will have increased the annual intake of medical places in Scottish universities from 848 to 1117 (269 places, a 32% increase). The majority of these new places are focused on general practice.

By increasing the amount of undergraduate curriculum that is delivered in general practice to 25%. We are confident increased exposure to general practice will encourage more students to train as GPs. With an increase of 89 GPs in 2019-20 we are now confident we are starting to see the positive impact of these actions.

Number of GPs working in Scotland since 2017

Since the answer to question S6W-08638, the Scottish Breast Screening Programme has continued work towards the restart of self-referrals for those over 71, and these are on-track to recommence by Autumn 2022.

Commencement will be done in a careful, phased way to ensure that it does not unduly impact screening on the eligible cohort of 50-70, for whom the benefits of breast screening are clear.

I will update parliament with further details on the plans in the coming weeks.

The Allied Health Professions (AHP) Education and Workforce Policy Review is currently examining whether AHP education provision, including podiatry, is congruent to the needs of our students and future workforce. Whilst recommendations have not yet been agreed, a subgroup focussing on educational solutions is examining different delivery models including apprenticeships.