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We understand that the UK Government's Heat Pump Ready funding programme will be open to businesses across the UK and our enterprise agencies have highlighted this funding opportunity to companies based in Scotland. We will carefully consider any further funding requirements for heat pump innovation in our Heat in Buildings Supply Chain Delivery Plan, to be published next year.

I am pleased to confirm that, notwithstanding the severe financial pressures caused by the Covid Pandemic, sufficient funding can be made available to complete fully the preferred option for the electrification and significant enhancement of both the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes.

This preferred option was recommended by and agreed with rail industry partners Network Rail and ScotRail following detailed consideration of a wide range of options, the business case appraisal of which has followed appropriate Scottish Government processes

People can show their COVID-19 vaccine status either via:

1. NHS Scotland COVID Status App via Google Play or the App Store;

2. Download a PDF of the vaccination status record via NHS Inform website; or

3. Request a paper copy of the vaccination status record by calling the Freephone COVID Status Helpline on 0800 196 8565.

People should allow plenty of time to access their certificate; and if using paper certificate allow at least 14 days for any letter to arrive.

If the helpline is busy then they may wish to call back at later.

The Steering Group, comprising Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), Sustrans and Transport Scotland, who have overseen delivery of the document are currently progressing plans for the development and delivery of training material. Transport Scotland has committed to provide training for staff and designers working on trunk road schemes, and it is a matter for local authorities to consider what training they will require.

The organisation promoting the scheme is responsible for reviewing and approving designs. Cycling by Design advocates a high level of service whereby schemes will be suitable for most users, including new and less confident users. Where a high level of service cannot be achieved the reasons for this should be documented in the ‘Design Review’ process as recommended in the guidance.

Our Freephone COVID-19 Status Helpline on 0808 196 8565 can provide a free and secure paper copy of the vaccination status record for patients who do not have access to online services or a smartphone. There is no need for patients to approach their GP practices.

In 2020-21, the Scottish Government delegated £140 million of the Health and Social Care Portfolio’s capital budget to be used by Health Boards on priorities such as maintenance. Over the course of the next five years, the Scottish Government intends to double the annual amount spent on maintenance, investing a total of £1 billion over those five years in enhancing or refurbishing existing facilities . The condition of NHS properties are regularly assessed with the results added to the national Estates and Asset Management System. The Scottish Government does not audit the staffing levels of NHS estates and facilities department. The scale and nature of each Health Board’s estate varies significantly and therefore the number of staff and type of skills required for estates and facilities departments also vary. It is the responsibility of each Health Board to ensure that those departments are sufficiently resourced.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has provided final advice on a COVID-19 vaccination booster programme. The primary objective of the booster programme is to maintain protection against severe COVID-19 disease, specifically hospitalisation and deaths, over winter 2021-22, and is aimed at maintaining protection in those most vulnerable and to protect our NHS.

Booster vaccines will be offered to the same groups who were prioritised at the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Winter and Spring 2020-21. Those with asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of systematic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission, as set out in the Green Book will be included in phase 1 of the booster programme.

More information around eligibility for COVID-19 booster vaccines can be found at: Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccination | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot) .

The information requested on how many clinical nurse specialists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2007 is not centrally held.

Clinical nurse specialist data by NHS Board from 2009 to the most recent data, published September 2018, can be found at: https://turasdata.nes.nhs.scot/media/4ndpx4za/clinical_nurse_specialists_s2018.xlsx

A national review into the Clinical Nurse Specialist role and definition is currently underway, NES will work with NHS Boards to cleanse their CNS data once this is complete.

Due to the data quality concerns mentioned above, we advise that all historical data, whilst published, should be treated with caution. NES will continue to work with SG and NHS Boards to ensure improved recording going forward.

The information requested on how many nurses have (a) joined and (b) left the NHS in each year since 2007 is not centrally available.

Information on how many Nursing & Midwifery staff have (a) joined and (b) left the NHS since 2011-12 can be found in the following table:

Nursing & Midwifery Staff Group - Joiners and Leavers by Financial year in Whole Time Equivalent (WTE)