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The Scottish Government keeps its records management plan under review as stipulated in the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011. It is reviewed annually, or sooner if changes to the law require it.

The Scottish Government keeps its Mobile Messaging Policy under review and updates annually.

The Scottish Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the potential impacts of renewable energy projects on food production.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy 5 ‘Soils’ is clear that that development proposals on prime agricultural land, or land of lesser quality that is culturally or locally important for primary use, as identified by the local development plan, will only be supported in limited circumstances.

Those circumstances include: for essential infrastructure where there is a specific locational need and no other suitable site, and for renewable energy generation. In all circumstances the policy is clear that the layout and design of the proposal minimises the amount of protected land that is required.

All renewable energy applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and a careful balance must be struck between the potential impacts of the proposed development and the associated environmental, economic, renewable energy and climate change benefits.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22241 on 13 November 2023 which provides an overview of the scope of the review. 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

The process of recruiting a Chair for the independent review is underway and an advert is currently live. The advertisement will be live for 5 weeks and will close on 27 November 2023, with interviews expected to take place in December.

The implementation cost of DESC is funded by Scottish Government. There is no cost expected to be paid from Police Scotland or other justice partners existing budget.

When DESC is fully implemented the lifetime management costs of DESC are expected to be met from justice partners, including Police Scotland. The efficiency benefits delivered by DESC are projected to offset these costs.

The Scottish Government is aware that a wide range of views is held by passengers, ScotRail staff and other interested parties, including British Transport Police about alcohol ban on ScotRail trains.

Transport Scotland officials are engaging with British Transport Police, amongst other organisations to ensure that these views are given due consideration.

Due to the nature of the eligibility criteria, the number of households eligible to apply for the scheme varies according to the number of households in receipt of the relevant social security benefits at any given time. However analysis of the eligibility criteria in December 2022 estimated that a total of 208,000 households were eligible to receive support at that time. Analysis of the current eligibility criteria for phase 2 of WHS estimates that around 433,000 households will be eligible.

The following table shows the number of households who have received support each financial year in phase 1 of Warmer Homes Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) continues to provide early information - on an in confidence basis - to Health Boards on medicines in clinical development that are expected to require a companion diagnostic through regular horizon scanning reports.

As part of the Scottish Strategic Network for Genomic Medicine (SSNGM), the Scottish Genomic Testing Advisory Group (SG-TAG) for cancer is now live, and has successfully carried out a review of a new genomic testing pathway for biliary tract cancer which was approved for implementation. This cancer pathway includes diagnostic and prognostic targets, and also targets for SMC approved medicines. The equivalent group for Rare and Inherited Conditions is due to launch next month. Both groups will include a process for considering the laboratory genomics delivery model as well as the cost of the genomic testing pathway for SMC approved medicines.

The Action Plan reflects on the strong evidence of what we know works and builds on the firm foundations of best practice to reduce delayed discharges and overall hospital occupancy and reasserts the Scottish Government’s commitment to responding to the many challenges that still exist over the coming winter.

On 24-hour delays, while we absolutely need to work to reduce these instances, it is important to emphasize that these figures represent a fraction (0.6%) of all attendances to Emergency Departments in this period. The patients experiencing these waits will, in the main, be those who require admission and are waiting for a bed in a ward. They will have been triaged and seen by a doctor.

The Scottish Government is committed to preventing the harm caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to supporting those impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

We recognise there is more that needs to be done to support people with FASD, that is why we provide funding to the Fetal Alcohol Advisory Support and Training Team (FAASTT) to allow the delivery of training to improve knowledge, attitudes and confidence in professionals working with individuals with FASD.

We also provide funding to the FASD Hub in Scotland with the aim of providing support, training and advice to families, carers and professionals supporting children affected by FASD as well as a new project supporting adults with FASD. This was the first FASD Hub of its kind in the UK.

In 2021, Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a share of GDP was estimated at 2.98% in Scotland. This statistic is sourced from the latest GERD Scotland report, available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/gross-expenditure-on-research-and-development-scotland-2021/

Note that the GERD estimates for Scotland are provisional and subject to future revision. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have recently changed their measurement of Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) expenditure which has led to significant uplift revisions to GERD estimates. Work is currently underway between the Scottish Government and the ONS to further quality assure the new methodology.