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The list of NHS Scotland buildings which have two or more characteristics consistent with the presence of RAAC was provided in the response to question S6W-19366 on 21 July 2023. This list has also been made available on the NHS Scotland Assure website: RAAC -List of Properties v1 Jul 23 (nhs.scot). This list forms the NHS Scotland Assure RAAC survey programme, which commenced in July 2023. The eight NHS Forth Valley buildings on this list have not yet been surveyed and there are no indications any NHS Forth Valley buildings may have to temporarily close due to the presence of RAAC.

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

These were pre-RET products that had always been intended to be removed at the point RET was introduced across the Calmac network from 2015.

Following representations from the community, Transport Scotland are engaging with Calmac on this matter to consider whether any interim replacement product can be put in place. This will need to consider any practical challenges and any costs associated with the reintroduction of a similar product that will function with the new system.

A wider review of fares policy will be undertaken as part of the consultation on the Islands Connectivity Plan in due course.

Latest Official Statistics covering the 2021-22 academic year show that there were 170 full-time first degree entrants aged 18 and under from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland entering university from the Mid Scotland and Fife region. This number rises to 415 if you look at all aged entrants.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. The funding and commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, including hospices, is a matter for Integration Authorities using the integrated budgets under their control.

Targeted testing is in place to support clinical decision making and surveillance. We are working closely with Public Health Scotland, our clinical advisors and the other UK nations to routinely review our position and the clinical advice on COVID-19 in light of new variants. Evidence to date does not support a return to widespread community testing however we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places statutory responsibility for local roads, including the timeframe for repairing defects on local authorities. As such it is the responsibility of the local authority to determine how best to meet its duties on local roads in their respective areas.

SCOTS (the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland) is responsible for implementing best practice on local road maintenance and has published a best practice guide detailing recommended repair times for different categories of road defects: Road Asset Inspections: A Risk Based Approach - Road Asset Safety Inspection Strategy (scotsnet.org.uk)

We are making good progress on this commitment and since 2017 headcount has increased by 291 with a record 5,209 GPs now working in Scotland.

We have increased medical undergraduate intake by 448 places, and created an additional 135 GP training places since 2016. 100% of training places advertised so far this year have filled successfully with a further round of recruitment in February 2024.

We have also established a GP Retention Working Group that will report to me by the end of October with its findings and recommendations.

Officials met with the UK Department of Health and Social Care in advance of the UK Government’s consultation and will continue to engage with them as the Scottish Government takes forward its own proposals on the regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. As the Scottish Government’s work progresses in this area, we will take into consideration all relevant material, including – where relevant – the UK Government consultation.

The review of deer management by the independent Deer Working Group (DWG) found that deer populations in Scotland have grown significantly since 1990, when the population estimate was approximately 512,000 wild deer. The DWG estimated the current deer population to be in excess of one million animals through analysis of data published by NatureScot in recent years. We have no reason to doubt the credibility of this estimate.

Specific data on job creation is not collected. Over the past ten years, the estimated numbers of manufacturing jobs in Scotland, rounded to the nearest 1,000, were as follows: