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In March 2020, Scotland implemented human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as the primary cervical screening test, and increased the routine screening interval from every three years to every five. Both changes followed UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations, which were based on strong evidence that HPV causes almost all cases of cervical cancer and typically takes years or decades to do so.

The change was accompanied by guidance to explain the increased interval, and we have continued to reiterate this as part of on-going work to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening. Considerable efforts have also continued to improve the information available for those invited for cervical screening, which includes revision of invitation letters and information leaflets and updates of NHS inform.

To date, there is no evidence that the changes made to the English programme have given rise to increased concerns in Scotland. We will, however, keep this situation under review, and consider if additional work is needed to ensure the benefits of Scotland’s cervical screening programme are communicated clearly.

It remains important that anyone who has concerns about possible symptoms of cervical cancer discusses them with their GP, even if they have not yet received an invitation for their next cervical screening appointment. In addition, anyone between the ages of 25 and 64 who did not attend their last screening appointment can ask to be screened, no matter how long ago they were last invited.

The Projecting Future Demand for Health and Care Services in Scotland (2024-2034) report forecasts a continued rise in unplanned acute inpatient hospital admissions. Public Health Scotland (PHS) emphasises that this trend is not fixed and can be influenced through strategic investment, service redesign, and addressing the wider determinants of health.

The Scottish Government acknowledges the projected increase, particularly in admissions related to respiratory conditions, and is taking action. We recently published the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan, the Scotland's Population Health Framework and the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework in which we outline our shared, long-term vision for reforming and renewing health and social care services to ensure they are more sustainable, preventative, and equitable. A new Long Term Conditions (LTC) Framework is under development. This framework aims to ensure equitable and sustainable access to the services that all people with long term conditions need while allowing for targeted action on condition-specific care and support where appropriate.

We have requested sheep movement data from APHA, but it has not as yet been received.

Capital expenditure is solely for the purchase of Peatland Carbon Units at a set rate as they mature within each project. However, awardees may sell their units on the open market where they can achieve an improved price.

This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

Work is progressing to implement changes through Energy Act 2023 to establish a better enabling environment for offshore wind development. Scotland’s strategic compensation policy, including amendment to the Habitats Regulations, is now at consultation until 1 September 2025. The changes proposed seek to increase the availability of compensatory measures and give clarity on the requirements around environmental compensation for offshore wind development. These reforms have been developed in partnership with the UK Government to ensure a consistent approach across the whole of the UK.

Scottish Government is also working to establish a Scottish Marine Recovery Fund to deliver Strategic Compensation and a more streamlined process for securing compensation for adverse environmental effects of relevant offshore wind activities. Scottish Government has published Scottish Marine Recovery Fund Interim Guidance (available on the Scottish Government website) and consultation on these proposals will be undertaken in due course.

The Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in Scotland, is also now at consultation and a series of engagement events have been held around Scotland. The plan will set a clear roadmap for the sustainable delivery of offshore wind in Scottish waters.

A programme of work to streamline the consent process, to meet and, where possible, reduce timescales in relation to application determination and post-consent approvals for offshore wind projects and associated infrastructure, has also been undertaken. Officials sought views from industry, regulators and other stakeholders on proposed improvements to the consenting and licensing process and intended updates to the guidance. Improvements have now been implemented through engagement with developers, updates to external guidance and updates to internal procedures including:

• Promotion of effective stakeholder engagement earlier in the process including updated guidance on pre-application engagement with stakeholders
• Front loading the consenting process and reduced post consent consultation and approvals by requiring certain information on mitigation with applications that was previously required post consent
• Supporting high quality applications through engagement with developers and updated guidance and checklist on information required to support applications for offshore renewable energy projects
• Improvements to planning authority consultation on applications, including clarifying timescales and provisions for planning authority consultation on applications

The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Oversight Committee was established in May 2024.

Information about the group, including the minutes and membership are published here Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Oversight Committee - gov.scot.

Marketing expenditure of £3.8m was spent on the Let's Do Net Zero campaign, covering the period from its development in 2020-21 through to the current financial year 2024-25.

This campaign is delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Public Engagement Strategy and specifically supports the strategic objective to ensure that people are aware of the action that all of Scotland is taking to tackle climate change and understand how it relates to their lives. The campaign seeks to motivate households to take action in the areas that will have the biggest impact in reducing emissions. Evidence, including from the Climate Change Committee’s Citizen panels, suggest that communications of this nature are both necessary and welcome as part of Scotland’s journey towards net zero.

The Scottish Government recently published the Climate Change – public engagement strategy:mid point review (April 2025) which reflects on the results delivered to date and includes a summary of outcomes and learning related to the Let’s Do Net Zero campaign. Independent evaluation shows that:

• Paid-for Let’s Do Net Zero campaigns typically reach a large proportion of people in Scotland: for example, the October 2021 communications activity reached 3,475,000 (75%) of adults in Scotland, who saw the activity on average 9.7 times.
• Seeing messaging relating to the need to take action to tackle climate change has a positive impact on the target audience’s commitment to taking action: for example, 76% of campaign recognisers were motivated to take action in November 2024 versus 49% of non-recognisers.

The Review’s findings indicate that the public want to see more mass communication on climate change from the Scottish Government and want to hear more on the urgency of the climate crisis from Government, balanced with communication on the practical actions that people can take, and their co-benefits.

Scottish Government consultation with the trade unions is ongoing and at this stage of the process there are no outcomes to report.

The Scottish Government has prioritised action on marine litter through the Marine Litter Strategy for Scotland. We published our refreshed Strategy in September 2022, which sets out a co-ordinated approach to address the amount of litter entering the marine environment and supports the removal of debris that is already there. The Strategy contains multiple actions on the most problematic types of marine litter, including sewage-related debris and wet wipes. We are working across the four nations to put an end to pollution caused by wet wipes containing plastic, with legislation forthcoming. Scottish Water are a valued member of our Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group, which oversees the work of the Strategy.