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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 (PHS) HIV in Scotland surveillance report, which is available at: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/hiv-in-scotland/hiv-in-scotland-update-to-31-december-2023/.In their report, PHS noted 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 underestimate. Work is currently underway, led by PHS, to better understand the cohort of individuals who are no longer engaged with HIV specialist services and, therefore, not in receipt of treatment and care. This exercise will refine and improve the accuracy of this reporting and will inform the next phase of our HIV transmission elimination efforts beyond 2026.

The Scottish Government has committed to rolling out Emergency Department opt-out testing for blood borne viruses in the areas of highest diagnosed prevalence, which will identify undiagnosed patients as well as providing an opportunity to re-engage patients who are not currently in care.

(a) Enviro400EV – (SULEBs) 125, (ScotZEB) 59.

(b) Enviro200EV – (SULEBs) 82, (ScotZEB) 74.

(c) Enviro100EV – (SULEBs) 0, (ScotZEB) 21.

(d) Enviro400MMC – 0.

(e) Enviro200MMC – 0.

The peer review has now concluded and the feedback shared by the reviewers is currently under consideration by the research paper author, Mr Malcom McMillan. Once that process, and any further action needed has concluded, including consideration of the consultation, we will publish the paper and it remains that we expect to be able to do that no later than the end of this year.

The New Dementia Strategy for Scotland emphasises the importance of ensuring that people are supported to receive a timely diagnosis, delivered in a person-centred manner, and high quality Post-Diagnostic Support is received for a minimum of 12 months, irrespective of where they live or how old they are. This includes a diagnosis of dementia being followed with clear, consistent quality information and support options, underpinned by inclusive communication approaches, including Post-Diagnostic Support, rehabilitation and other supportive treatments to people with dementia and their care partners.

To support the delivery of this ambition, and address variation in access, we have continued to invest an additional £3.5m per year to Health & Social Care Partnerships to increase uptake of this support in communities across Scotland.

We have also commissioned IFF Research to undertake an independent evaluation of Scotland’s dementia Post-Diagnostic Support policy. To better understand how this is being prioritised and delivered locally, and provide evidence of the value and impact of Post-Diagnostic Support to date which will help inform future Post-Diagnostic Support policy, service planning and practice.

To support the evaluation, we are progressing work with data specialists in the Scottish Government, local government and Public Health Scotland to improve data collection on diagnosis and Post-Diagnostic Support, with the aim of publishing more accurate data on the numbers of people living with a diagnosis and the proportion of those diagnosed who access Post-Diagnostic Support. Early work has seen Public Health Scotland develop an initial version of a Dementia Index which brings together 5 points of data from across Health and Social Care. This data work is crucial in helping us to identify the number of people living with dementia who are accessing care and support, ensuring that this links into data from primary care.

Lastly, I also want to highlight the role that dementia community groups across Scotland play in supporting people to seek a diagnosis and improve access to Post-Diagnostic Support. Working with the National Dementia Resilient Communities Board, made up of local, national and third sector partners alongside the voices of lived experience, the Scottish Government has allocated around £1.45m since 2024 to enhance the resilience of community and grassroots supports for those who are living with dementia.

A national local delivery plan (LDP) standard was introduced to agree priorities between Scottish Government and NHS boards for the provision of care and support. The LDP standard states all people newly diagnosed with dementia should receive a minimum of one year’s Post-Diagnostic Support, provided by a named link worker.

Extending the awareness, reach and impact of Post-Diagnostic Support is a key priority for all those living with dementia, from those diagnosed with the condition it its initial stages to those living in residential care. This supports people with dementia and their care partners to uphold their right to participation in care needs assessment, future care planning, choosing and arranging care, support and treatment. This includes advanced decision making, embracing the principle of shared decision making and in accordance with the principles of Realistic Medicine and detailed in the SIGN Dementia Guideline.

The Scottish Government and CoSLA are working in partnership to deliver on the Joint Statement of Intent and Next Steps for Adult Social Care 2022-23 commitment to overhaul the current mechanism of eligibility criteria to ensure an approach to social care support that is based on human rights and needs, including for people living with dementia.

This work is being undertaken with input from an external working group including representatives from Disabled People’s Organisations, carers’ representatives, people working in the sector and academics. We are also ensuring the voices of people with lived experience are informing our work via the ongoing National Care Service co-design programme.

The work will include planning for assessment of impacts of any future eligibility criteria.

Two housing developers have received debt finance from the Scottish National Investment Bank since inception as follows:

DITT construction: £730,000 investment to support the construction of six high-quality, one-bedroom homes in Lerwick. These homes are designed for key workers who struggle to find affordable accommodation.

Strathcarron Homes: £3.9 million loan facility will support the construction of 25 high quality family homes built to be sold to local social housing tenants and first-time buyers. The builders are about to start construction at Nitshill Road in Glasgow.

The Bank has also made equity investments in to the following funds:

Thriving Investments: (Bank is a Limited Partner) £60 million committed to their mid-market rental housing fund which has delivered 742 new homes to date.

Social & Sustainable Capital (SASC): (Bank is a Limited Partner) £10 million committed to their SASH II fund. This will allow charities and community interest companies to buy properties which they would otherwise not be able to attain, building their financial strength, capacity and resilience to enable them to provide high quality services to their tenants.

To ensure transparency in the reform of the school inspection system, HM Inspectors introduced a revised approach to stakeholder engagement in November 2024. This approach is designed to support continuous improvement and ensure that inspection activity remains purposeful and inclusive of all stakeholders, including children and young people.

A key safeguard is the establishment of a Stakeholder Forum in December 2024. This forum plays a central role in testing ideas and informing the ongoing review of school inspection. Between December 2024 and May 2025, HM Inspectors engaged with over 1,300 adult stakeholders and 500 children and young people through targeted sessions, national online events, and questionnaires, ensuring a wide range of perspectives were considered.

To further strengthen transparency, professional legitimacy, and system-wide ownership, a public consultation will be launched in Autumn 2025. This will provide an open platform for feedback and help shape reform of the school inspection system.

The Vessels and Ports Plan, published as part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, indicates delivery of new tonnage to replace the three NIFS Ro-Pax vessels is expected within Phase 3 (2031-2036). Work on planning for and procuring their replacements will commence during Phase 1(2021-2026). The outline business case for the replacement vessels, including concept design work and project cost estimates, is expected to be presented to Transport Scotland and then Ministers in 2026. The specific timeline of business case activity, procurement and delivery is still currently being developed and will be dependent upon resource, required approvals and available funding.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-39215 on 30 July 2025. 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.