Seòmar agus comataidhean

The monthly passenger carrying statistics on each route in the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract with Serco NorthLink from January 2023 up to the latest available figures can be found on Serco NorthLink Ferries’ website here: NorthLink Statistics | NorthLink Ferries .

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manage 204,782 hectares of woodland within the rainforest zone, of which 17,960 hectares are considered to be rainforest habitat, or of high potential to be restored to rainforest habitat. These consist of PlantLife IPA, and other areas of ancient woodland sites. Within the Rainforest zone 13,297 hectares of Scotland’s National Forests and Land are classified as plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS).

FLS will begin restoration of up to 780 hectares of priority rainforest area this year in Cowal, Argyll (Kintyre & West Loch Awe), Loch Lomond Basin, Wester Ross. Activity will include INNS control, PAWS restoration and deer management.

It is anticipated natural colonisation will occur within PAWS under restoration and generally throughout rainforest habitat following a reduction in deer densities, buffering zones for natural colonisation are being planned within Land Management Plans.

We seek to ensure that people can access vaccination appointments as close to home as possible. Health Boards continue to recognise and support the needs of rural communities in planning and delivering the winter vaccination programme.

Health Boards continue to use outreach options to provide vaccination in rural areas. This winter, community pharmacies, ‘pop-up’ clinics and support from Scottish Ambulance Service mobile unit teams have been used to improve access and reduce travel distances.

Most Health Boards aim for a maximum travel distance of 10 miles or a travel time of 15-30 minutes and always consider public transport routes when choosing vaccination venues.

Community support and local transport solutions are utilised where possible in order to support those with additional barriers. Boards are also able to utilise local intelligence and provide flexible options including some weekend and evening appointments.

When booking their vaccination, I would encourage people to continue to check the online portal or call the national vaccination helpline as new appointments do become available regularly.

A transport appraisal of passenger and freight ferry services between the Northern Isles and the Scottish mainland, in line with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), was undertaken in 2016-2017 to inform the specification of the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract awarded in 2020. The study report is published here:

final-report-appraisal-of-options-for-specification-of-2018-northern-isles-ferry-services-april-2018.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF), as operator of the Northern Isles Ferry Services contract, keeps freight services under review and discusses these regularly with key stakeholders and Transport Scotland. SNF publish its carrying statistics, including freight, here:

NorthLink Statistics | NorthLink Ferries

While bedbug bites can be itchy they do not constitute a public health hazard. Local authority environmental health departments are responsible for their own pest control and advice services. General prevention advice for anyone who suspects an infestation can be found by contacting the relevant local authority.

The NHS UK website contains useful information on bed bugs, including self-care advice, and can be found at Bedbugs - NHS (www.nhs.uk) .

The survey by the Royal College of Psychiatrists describes some of the issues with current mental health service provision that we are working hard to improve. The recent Audit Scotland report concluded that our new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy "recognises the importance of a whole system approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing and provides a foundation for better joint working ". The Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan and Workforce Action Plan will be published in the coming weeks, and these will set out the actions we intend to take to address many of the issues across the whole system.

Mental health spending by NHS Boards has doubled in cash terms rising from £651 million in 2006-07 to £1.3 billion in 2021-22. Spend on mental health represents around 8.8% of total NHS expenditure. We have committed that 10% of the total frontline NHS budget should be spent on mental health by the end of this parliamentary session.

NHS Boards will draw funding for mental health services from the overall funds allocated to them by the Scottish Government. I expect NHS Boards to work with their Integration Joint Board and other partners to make local budget decisions which reflect the national mental health priority and ensure the provision of local services which meet the assessed needs of their populations.

There will be an extensive programme of consultation as the Green Industrial Strategy is developed in line with our commitments within the New Deal for Business. We have already engaged with a number of organisations including Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI Scotland), Scottish Council for Development & Industry (SCDI), Federation of Small Business (FSB), Institute of Directors (IoD) and Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE). We will continue to engage with stakeholders through our New Deal for Business Group and other mechanisms in order to shape the strategy.

This strategic investment to help create thousands of green jobs and deliver the full economic potential of offshore renewables projects will be delivered over the next five years.

The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 prohibits the release of gamebirds in any Protection, Surveillance or Low Pathogenic Restricted Zones, established around an Infected Premises. This Order also provides Ministers with the powers to prohibit the release of game birds in Temporary Control Zones and Temporary Movement Restriction Zones (where disease is yet to be confirmed) based on a risk assessment of the specific disease situation and premises particulars. When kept there is also a legal requirement to report suspicion of notifiable avian disease in game birds.

The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (Scotland) Order 2007 prohibits the release of game birds in a Wild Bird Control Area or a Wild Bird Monitoring Area. Furthermore, Licencing requirements dictate that where Special Protected Area (SPA) or Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) are designated for vulnerable species, consent from NatureScot is required for the release of pheasants. One of the factors considered in this licensing assessment is control of Notifiable Avian Diseases (NADs).

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Body worn video cameras (BWVC) are currently in place within HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell.

The feasibility of a pilot to test the introduction of BWVCs across the SPS estate is however being considered in partnership with Trade Union Partners.