Seòmar agus comataidhean

We report emissions from across the economy on an annual basis in the Section A. Introduction to Greenhouse Gases - Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2022 - gov.scot. The contribution of farmers, crofters and land managers to reduce emissions and sequester carbon are reflected in the statistics for agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry.

We also complete annual statutory monitoring of the Climate Change Plan update (CCPu) Climate change monitoring report 2023 - gov.scot which outlines progress against our policies and proposals for Scottish agriculture and land use, land use change and forestry sectors contributions to our climate targets.

Our Vision for Agriculture makes clear Scotland will have a robust and coherent framework to underpin our future agricultural support regime from 2025 onwards, that delivers climate mitigation and adaptation, nature restoration and high-quality food production. I fully recognise that many farmers, crofters and land managers undertake low carbon farming practices. We provide financial support as well as guidance and advice for farmers, crofters and land managers to help reduce their emissions through initiatives like the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme and the Farm Advisory Service.

We will continue to support farmers and crofters on their sustainability journey. Importantly, we will maintain direct payments to support active farming and food production while introducing conditions from 2025 aimed at outcomes for biodiversity gain and climate mitigation and adaption. From 2026 powers from the new Agriculture Bill will be used to launch the new Enhanced Payment.

As outlined in the answer to another question raised by the member regarding treatment lengths (S6W-29773 on 3 December 2024), the Scottish Government commissioned Public Health Scotland (PHS) to carry out an evaluation of the Residential Rehabilitation programme.

The Scottish Government are not seeking to increase the number of plans for individual health conditions and are therefore not developing a national allergy strategy. Rather, we are focussed on how we can best support Health Boards to deliver high quality, value-based, person-centred care for all people, irrespective of condition.

Three of the four planned Short Life Working Group meetings have now taken place, and arrangements are currently being made for the final meeting. The group’s work will then inform advice to Ministers, as per the group’s remit.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body supports the reimbursement of pedal cycle mileage expenses for MSP staff in relation to business travel as part of its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly travel options.

Members may also claim for reimbursement of pedal cycle mileage expenses that occur because of their parliamentary work. The reimbursement rate for bicycle travel is set at 20p per mile which is in line with current HMRC approved mileage rates. This policy aligns with broader efforts by the SPCB to promote green initiatives and supports MSP staff in making environmentally friendly travel choices.

Through our 10-year cancer strategy, the Scottish Government continues to focus on improving cancer survival rates and provide excellent and equitable care for all people facing cancer.

As clear cell carcinoma is not confined to one organ, there is no single management pathway for this type of cancer. Clinical management and treatment of such cancers will be determined by the organ of origin and should therefore follow existing clinical guidelines for those.

We know that person-centred care and support is important and we are committed to supporting patients to deal with the financial, emotional, and physical health effects of cancer. We are working in partnership with Macmillan through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme. The programme ensures that every person with cancer in Scotland has access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide emotional, financial, and practical support to those who need it.

Early intervention and prevention are key priorities for the Scottish Government in taking forward our approaches to mental health and wellbeing, and HIV transmission elimination. We recognise that physical and mental health can be influenced by many factors, including home life, work, physical environment and housing, income, communities, relationships, difficult or traumatic life experiences and inequalities.

We are therefore working across government and with partners from a range of different sectors to better understand and address the social determinants of health. In relation to HIV, this specifically includes working with public sector and third sector partners to address barriers to prevention, testing and treatment and investing in interventions to ensure equitable access to high quality care that supports people to live well.

The latest data on people living with HIV in Scotland and not attending for HIV treatment and care can be found in Public Health Scotland’s HIV in Scotland surveillance report, which is available at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hiv-in-scotland/hiv-in-scotland-update-to-31-december-2023/. It is important to note that changes to service delivery during and since the COVID-19 pandemic mean that the reported proportion of diagnosed individuals receiving treatment may be an under-estimate and work is underway to ensure the accuracy of this reporting.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living with HIV receive the care and support they need, and we are working with partners across public service and the third sector to ensure that this happens. Our HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan sets out our approach to ensuring equitable access to high quality care and treatment.

Through our Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults we are funding a number of projects offering peer support and practical assistance which can help people living with HIV to stay well and engage or re-engage in care.

The Scottish Government, along with the other UK nations, relies on advice about screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent expert advisory group. The UK NSC is not currently considering a targeted screening proposal for those who have been exposed to diethylstilbestrol. It has also not received a request or proposal to do so during its annual call for topics to consider.

However, in line with the UK NSC’s current recommendations, all women aged between 50 to 70 years old are invited for breast screening every three years. In addition, those aged between 25 and 64 are invited for routine cervical screening every 5 years. The individual may be invited for more regular cervical screening or until they are aged 70 if previous results have found changes that need to be monitored.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information about the numbers of women who have been found to have cancer through those screening programmes and who may also have been prescribed diethylstilbestrol.

Social Security Scotland currently deliver 15 benefits. Applicants are not required to declare how much income tax they pay as part of the application process for these administered payments.

Social Security Scotland’s low income benefits are means-tested but assessed based on qualifying benefits received from the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions or HMRC.

Therefore, for those who receive payment from Social Security Scotland, there is no information held on which income tax bracket they belong to.