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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 to recent answers regarding Liberty Steel in Scotland, in particular my answers to written questions S6W-17169 on 4 May 2023 , S6W-17708 on 16 May 2023 and S6W-21489 on 26 September 2023.

Scottish Government maintain an open dialogue with Liberty Steel and have a number of regular meetings with them.

The question of whether or not to install additional equipment at the Dalzell is an operational matter for Liberty Steel. I understand from the business that there are currently no plans to install an Electric Arc Furnace at Dalzell.

The Clydebridge site is not currently operational and no staff are currently employed at the site. The future of the site is an operational matter for Liberty Steel.

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 total cost of the public inquiry into hepatitis C and HIV infection acquired from NHS treatment in Scotland (the Penrose Inquiry) was £12,123,754. Approximately 42.5% of these costs were spent on legal fees, including legal representation for patients and relatives and other witnesses, and fees for Counsel to the Inquiry. A breakdown of costs is available on the Penrose Inquiry website at Copy of Penrose Inquiry - Publication of Costs .

The Scottish Government continues to fully cooperate with the UK Infected Blood Inquiry and has provided significant input to the Inquiry to date, including by providing hundreds of relevant files as evidence, through provision of written statements and oral evidence, and by providing a detailed closing submission to the Inquiry, which can be found on the Infected Blood Inquiry’s website at SUBS0000056 - Closing submissions to the Infected Blood Inquiry by the Scottish Government - 16 Dec 2022.pdf .

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is collaborating with the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) on a joint multiple technology appraisal (MTA) of cystic fibrosis (CF) medicines, including Kaftrio®. The NICE recommendations that were published on 3 November are draft and could change following the current consultation period.

Existing patients and new patients who are started on a CF medicine while the MTA is ongoing will continue to have access to the medicine after NICE and the SMC issue their final recommendations, irrespective of the outcome.

In addition, this week the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) extended the licence for Kaftrio and Kalydeco to include children aged two to five years old. This extension helps address the unmet needs of younger children with cystic fibrosis.

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain their school estate, and Scottish Government funding is intended to augment, not replace, local authorities’ own investment in their schools.

East Lothian Council have been awarded financial support through the £2bn Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) for their Wallyford High School and Whitecraig Primary School projects.

In addition, through the previous Scotland’s Schools for the Future Programme, the Scottish Government awarded East Lothian Council with funding of £9.5m towards 2 school projects.

As a result of investment by this government, the proportion of schools in “good” or “satisfactory” condition in Scotland has increased from 61% in April 2007 to almost 91% in April 2023. LEIP investment will build on this progress.

We will continue working with COSLA, local authorities and Scottish Futures Trust to explore how we can deliver further improvements in the school estate.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-22728 on 21 November 2023. 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 .

NHS Boards are allocated approximately £150 million of formula capital funding which is used to maintain their estate and refresh and replace their equipment base.

The remainder of the portfolio’s capital allocation is mainly directed towards delivering the capital projects that were included in the Scottish Government’s five year Infrastructure Investment Plan which was published in February 2021.

We continue to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) and keep this under review.

The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. Posters and leaflets to promote the Fund are available in every Health Board and we continue to work with all Boards to maximise awareness and promotion of the scheme.

The Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) is currently reviewing its website and has confirmed that it intends to signpost to the YPFF in its update.