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The Scottish Government continues to take wide-ranging action to support low income households, including allocating over £3 billion a year to policies which tackle poverty and the cost of living. This investment includes £6.9 billion for benefits expenditure such as the Scottish Child Payment.

Last year we published a Toolkit which seeks to help staff and services in local areas develop an integrated, cross-sector response to ensure babies are fed responsively, whether formula or breastfed or both.

I would encourage anyone in need to contact their local authority or a health professional, such as a health visitor, midwife or family nurse, in order to ensure they are getting the holistic support they need, including financial advice and a referral to cash-first crisis supports.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35250 on 5 March 2025. 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

Audiology is considered as a clinical priority area and the Scottish Government remains committed to its vision for an integrated and community-based hearing service in Scotland.

Whilst our response to the Independent Review of Audiology in Scotland is implemented, we will continue to work with the NHS, Third Sector and private providers to identify and cost an appropriate model of community care for any future service reform and ensure that the voices of those with lived experience inform this work.

Scottish Government officials and the Centre for Sustainable Delivery national planned care team meet monthly with Chief Operating Officer and / or Acute Directors from all Health Boards to review performance and delivery across all Planned Care specialities, including ENT.

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults is managed and distributed locally by Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) across Scotland. Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLAN), the TSI for South Lanarkshire, was awarded £881,768 in Year 3 of the Fund to distribute to local projects. A full list of projects which received funding in Year 3 can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults Projects awarded funding Year 3 - 2023/2024

In Year 4 VASLAN were awarded £890,697.55. We do not yet have the list of projects funded in this year, as TSIs are due to submit their end of year reports by 31 March 2025. A full list of projects funded in Year 4 will be made available on the Scottish Government website thereafter.

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

SPS are pleased that His Majesties Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, recognised that HMP Dumfries is a well-run prison and performs well against their standards.

In 2022 work started on the new SPS development and learning strategy, now called "Learning for a Better Future”. The strategy will be implemented across all SPS sites on 1 August 2025 and aims to utilise an enhanced screening process, to support and identify the specific needs of learners, and allow establishments to design Annual Learning Plans (ALP) which deliver a range of qualifications and opportunities appropriate to their specific needs.

The strategy and individual ALPs will help to identify ways for establishments to enhance engagement and participation in learning opportunities both in and out with the traditional classroom setting.

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

SPS are pleased that His Majesties Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, recognised that HMP Dumfries is a well-run prison and performs well against their standards.

Prior to the inspection a CCTV replacement and upgrade programme was already agreed as part of the establishment maintenance programme.

A contractor has now been appointed and will replace and/or upgrade existing systems, introducing CCTV coverage into areas that do not currently have it such as D and E Halls and the respective exercise yards. This work is expected to begin in Autumn 2025 and is expected to take approximately 8 months to complete.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be reviewed as soon as this process is complete and will supersede existing SOPs that are in place to monitor exercise yards.

The Mental Welfare Commission have visited and reported on Skye House seven times since 2016 as part of its local visit programme, the most recent of which was in March 2024.

Some of the issues raised in these reports were also identified in the Disclosure documentary. These included staffing difficulties, support for young people with eating disorders in terms of standard of food, impact of isolation, and concerns regarding certain medical treatment under the Mental Health Act being properly authorised and monitored. The MWC does not comment on specifics such as self-harm, aggression or restraint in its visit reports, as there could be a risk to individuals being identified.

The MWC base their findings and recommendations on observations from the day of the visit and these local visit reports represent a snapshot of each facility at that moment in time, with recommendations made accordingly. MWC reports are an important part of ensuring standards of care and upholding rights, but they should not be seen as a comprehensive investigation or audit.

The Scottish Government intends to refresh and modernise the School Premises Regulations (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) to ensure that they meet the needs of pupils and schools in Scotland. The Scottish Government still intends to re-consult this year on the Regulations.

Scottish Government officials are taking steps to engage with relevant stakeholders and will be reaching out to further interested parties. Consultation responses will inform areas of focus for any proposals for changes to update the Regulations before these are brought forward.

It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate, including the provision of toilets in schools.

The Scottish Government does not provide specific support to independent video games developers. Developers can access bespoke business advice and support through our enterprise agencies.

Education Scotland supports all 32 local authorities to develop and deliver digital literacy, computing science and creativity learning - all of which are in-demand from the games industry.

The Scottish Government is engaging with an industry led action plan and which will look to address future support requirements of the sector.