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The costs associated with establishing an identity for Qualifications Scotland were set out in the Financial Memorandum that accompanied the Education (Scotland) Bill and were the best estimate available at the time.

A cost relating to the creation of an identity of a new public body will always be incurred and Qualifications Scotland is no exception. I requested that my officials look at ways to bear down on costs where possible while still delivering an identity for Qualifications Scotland. I can confirm that officials have been working closely with the SQA on this, to ensure that value for money for taxpayers is achieved.

From February – May 2024, the Scottish Government held a public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt. The consultation was run in parallel with a programme of extensive stakeholder engagement.

During the consultation period, I met with a range of stakeholders across public health groups and the food and drink industry. Several Ministerial roundtable events were held with stakeholders to discuss their views on proposals for regulations. We will publish the outputs of these roundtable events alongside independent analysis of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as set out next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

Ministers meet regularly with a broad range of stakeholders including public health groups and industry to discuss a range of issues relating to public health policy.

We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

Smoking is the most significant cause of preventable cancer in Scotland (18%). By 2034, we aim to be living in a Tobacco-Free Scotland, reducing smoking rates to below 5%.

To help achieve this, the Scottish Government launched the “Quit Your Way” stop smoking service campaign, which ran for 5 weeks between February and March 2024. An assessment of the campaign found that visits to the Quit Your Way Scotland NHS Inform page increased by 100% and numbers of people visiting the local help to stop smoking page increased up to 2297% compared to the 5 weeks prior. Requests for support to stop smoking via NHS Inform, where we make clear the link between smoking and cancer, doubled compared to the same period in 2023.

Figures published by Public Health Scotland on 17 December 2024 show that over the past year more people have accessed the NHS smoking cessation service, 30,314, a 12.4% increase from 2022-23 (26,963).

The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. The consultation sought views on qualifying businesses in scope of regulations and proposed exemptions.

We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

The Scottish Government recognises that funding will be required to support Boards to make the transition to a reformed maternity and neonatal service. We are continuing to provide transitional funding to Boards, as we have done for NHS GGC and NHS Lothian since 2019, with additional support for NHS Grampian now being included. This funding is focused on supporting Boards through the transition process.

We have been working with the regional implementation leads on development of plans for implementation to include a business case (or equivalent operational financial plan) with costs, with the expectation that a phased transition to the new model will begin in the new year.

To date, we have provided over £30 million of funding to NHS Boards to support implementation of the Best Start recommendations, and we are currently looking at future funding for maternity services in the next financial year.

The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. The consultation paper sought views on proposals for price promotions within scope of restrictions, including meal deals and temporary price reductions.

We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

Eligibility for, and changes to, the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Scotland has always been based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

In its statement of 8 November 2022 (published in January 2023), the JCVI advised that in 2023 COVID-19 vaccination should move towards a targeted offer during vaccination campaigns to protect those at higher risk of severe COVID-19.

From 30 June 2023, on the advice of the JCVI, we ceased the universal offer of COVID-19 vaccination to the entire population. From that point, only those advised as eligible by the JCVI were invited forward for COVID-19 vaccination during the JCVI-designated seasonal winter and spring campaigns.

Data on Fracture Liaison Service referrals across Scotland are not centrally held by the Scottish Government.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise flu vaccination for those aged 65 years and over. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotland expanded the programme to protect individuals, public services and the NHS. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scottish Government made a policy decision to expanded the programme to protect individuals, public services and the NHS.

Eligibility criteria for the last three years are set out below.

2024-25:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 65+
• Those aged 18 to 64 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per Green Book Chapter 19 (GBC19)
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • asylum seekers in Home Office hotel accommodation
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Poultry workers & bird keepers
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children

2023-24:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 50 +
• Those aged 18 to 49 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per GBC19
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Poultry workers
• Teachers
• Prison staff
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children

2022-23:

• Residents in long-stay care homes / facilities
• Those aged 50 +
• Those aged 18 to 49 at risk including:
  • clinical at-risk groups as per GBC19
  • the homeless
  • those experiencing substance misuse
  • prisoners
  • pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Non-frontline NHS workers
• Teachers
• Prison staff
• Unpaid carers and young carers
• Household contacts of the immunosuppressed
• Those aged 6 months to 2 years at clinical risk
• Those aged 2-5 years not yet at school
• Primary & secondary school children