Seòmar agus comataidhean

Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.

The following operating costs figures are provided from RoS annual report and accounts (which can be accessed via the RoS website www.ros.gov.uk)

I have asked Alison Byrne OBE, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland (NRS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

A programme of audit and other service based assurance reviews (including Digital Major Programme, Procurement, Cyber, Information management and archive assurance) are undertaken on a rolling basis across NRS services and functions with recommendations implemented to ensure efficient and effective delivery operations. The organisation also receives independent challenge through an Audit and Risk Committee comprised of Non-Executive Directors.

The Scottish Government has not had any conversations to date with the UK Government in relation to specific barriers to spectrum access for local and regional broadcasters, however we continue to engage with Ofcom, who has responsibility for allocating spectrum and assessing appropriate levels of local content, to press for a network of radio stations that ensure that Scotland’s needs across rural and urban areas are met.

We maintain a close interest in audience and stakeholder views on reception and spectrum allocation because of the implications for the level of service provided for audiences here and we meet regularly with representatives of Ofcom to urge them to consider how they might ensure that audiences in all parts of Scotland receive the best possible level of service.

Ofcom is reviewing public service media and the Scottish Government will be closely engaging with this and making representations on the importance of reducing any barriers for access to vital broadcasting services in Scotland, including community radio.

Fundamentally, we believe that broadcasting should be devolved so that the decisions that impact audiences and the creative industries in Scotland can be determined by the Scottish public through the Scottish Parliament.

The reach of radio across Scotland remains strong and the Scottish Government recognises that community radio plays a valuable role in the broadcasting ecosystem in reaching out to communities right across Scotland, including rural and island populations. Community radio provides a platform for diverse cultural outputs and for local voices and the Scottish Government is highly supportive of the role it has in promoting language and culture to those communities.

Output being produced across radio broadcasters contributes to the learning and use of the Gaelic language and it is a vital part of the fabric of what will serve and sustain the Gaelic speaking community in Scotland. We therefore continue to make the case to the UK Government and Ofcom of the importance of greater support for indigenous languages across all aspects of the broadcasting ecosystem.

MG ALBA has on occasions supported and encouraged Gaelic input into local and community radio and will continue to do so. SG has also supported Frieda Morrison, presenter and producer of Scots radio and with her distinct Doric programmes. Also, Isles FM, located in Stornoway broadcasts in English and Gaelic for local audiences.

Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.

RoS is predominantly funded by the fees which it charges for the services it provides. In FY 23-24 RoS’s income from fees was £94.6m.

Beyond that RoS are currently allocated a capital (CDEL) budget each year, a budget to cover non-cash costs such as depreciation (RDEL) and a budget to cover forecast movements in accounting provisions (AME).

During 23-24 these three budget lines totalled £11.2m, which is 10.7% of RoS’s total expenditure of £104.8m.

The Scottish Government promotes community engagement with local radio stations through a number of ways.

We recognise the importance of ensuring people across Scotland have access to important information and radio of course provides a vital service. That is why we continue to use local radio operators as part of our public health marketing campaigns across Scotland.

The Scottish Government speaks regularly with Ofcom, the regulator for communications services who allocate the Community Radio Fund throughout Scotland to promote Scottish interests in community radio.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33014 on 21 January 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

In 2016, an agreement was reached between Scottish Ministers and COSLA on a new strategic funding plan for flood protection schemes. This agreement ensures that from 2016 to 2026, a minimum of £42 million per annum is allocated for flooding capital grants within the local government settlement. Information is provided below on the schemes funded under that agreement.

As of 5 January, over 2.89 million winter vaccines have been delivered, with more than 1.27 million adult flu and over 523,000 child flu vaccines administered, as well as over 1.09 million Covid-19 vaccines administered.

Working with Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Health Boards, those eligible for vaccination have been encouraged through a number of mechanisms this winter, such as:

• Appointment or prompts to book via letters, emails or texts for all eligible citizens, depending on their communication preference, with the flexibility to book an appointment at any clinic in Scotland.
• Clear, updated information on NHS Inform, with particular prominence given to flu.
• Updated flu and Covid information leaflets for eligible citizens, with new content based on insight work and feedback on how previous leaflets could be improved.
• Dedicated updated resources for Health and Social Care Workers, based on insight work and feedback on how they can be improved.
• Public Health Scotland (PHS) has developed a range of tailored resources and promotional materials that have been disseminated through trusted partners, including local NHS Boards and the third sector, that can be used to inform and encourage uptake for all those eligible.

With cases of flu increasing over the Christmas holidays, the Scottish Government, PHS and territorial Health Boards put out a range of communications highlighting the seriousness of flu and advertising how eligible people could access vaccination immediately and easily, notably through drop-in clinics. Boards increased clinic capacity at this time and as a result, between 15 December and 5 January, delivered over 68,000 flu vaccinations, compared to 39,000 over the same three week festive window in 2023-24. Public Health Scotland surveillance information is available here.

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with PHS and territorial Boards on strategies to bring more people forward for their flu vaccine in the coming weeks. Since 26 December, the First Minister has chaired a number of meetings with senior leaders from across the health system in Scotland to support a cohesive and focussed effort to improve vaccine uptake and ensure the system as a whole is able to manage the increased demand typically seen in winter.

The winter Covid vaccine programme closes on 31 January, and PHS are planning additional communications to encourage eligible people to take up their vaccination before the programme ends. Flu vaccination will remain available until 31 March, and continued efforts will be made to encourage those eligible to come forward for their vaccination.

The Scottish Government has been working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to ensure that those who are eligible this winter are easily able to access vaccination.

Citizens were appointed to their nearest available clinic, with flexibility to reschedule into any clinic in Scotland, via the online booking portal or the national vaccination helpline, should their original appointment be unsuitable.

This gives citizens flexibility to get their winter vaccinations outside their own area, should it be easier for them to receive vaccination nearer their place of work or somewhere they visit regularly.

Boards maintain lists of those requiring home visits, and there are clear instructions on appointment letters on how to seek a home visit, if not already on a local list.

The Scottish Ambulance Service mobile vaccination service was deployed over the winter programme, offering accessible vaccination to those in rural and island areas, as well as underserved urban communities, identified by Boards.

Additionally, Boards have run dedicated clinics and drop-ins for health and social care staff, including offering vaccination at their place of work for NHS and care home staff.

On top of routine scheduling, when clinic capacity allowed, most Boards opened drop-in clinics in December, allowing those eligible to turn up and receive vaccination without having to book. These have been heavily promoted via Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, NHS Inform and by Boards.

The primary and secondary school child flu school is delivered directly in schools.

The Scottish Vaccination and Immunisation Programme (SVIP), led by PHS, reviews every winter vaccination campaign. SVIP will evaluate what went well and what can be improved for future campaigns, including what can be done to improve access. Ministers will be informed of the outcomes and will engage with key delivery partners to consider and implement improvements.