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The majority of the Scottish Government’s social media management and organic content creation is managed by internal teams, supported by agencies where required.

The covers the provision of all marketing services, including the development of materials to deliver targeted messaging, engagement with audiences and to support behaviour change.

The relevant lots specifically for social media management support and content production as detailed above are Lot 3 Digital Marketing Services and Lot 4 Public Relation Services. The covers planning and buying services for a full range of media including television, radio, press, digital, online, cinema and out of home.

Total annual Scottish Government marketing spend on these contracts for PR Services, Digital Services and Online media buying as a proportion of total annual marketing spend is below.

It is not possible to refine down to solely social media platform management, social media content creation and social media advertising spend within the timescales required for this response.

Combined spend on PR Services, Digital Services and Online Media spend as a % of total marketing spend over the last five years (NB not solely social media spend) is below:

The majority of the Scottish Government’s social media management and organic content creation is managed by internal teams, supported occasionally by agencies where required.

The covers the provision of all marketing services, including the development of materials to deliver targeted messaging, engagement with audiences and to support behaviour change. Framework covers services for a full range of media including television, radio, press, digital, online, cinema and out of home.

Social media management support would be covered by various lots within these frameworks, depending on the required service, such as:

An example of this is the rollout of Digital Therapy services which has been successfully completed with 35 evidenced digital treatments available in all areas of Scotland, including all rural and remote areas. Across digital therapy services a range of technologies have been integrated into clinical service delivery to ensure that services can be accessed in a variety of ways to meet the circumstances of the individual. Over 74,000 referrals and self-referrals were received into digital therapy services in 2023-24.

Data provided by local services indicates high levels of usage of digital therapy services across remote and rural areas, with good clinical outcomes and showing much greater levels of treatment, accessibility and availability in these areas. NHS Shetland, NHS Orkney and NHS Western Isles are some of the biggest users of digital therapies when adjusted for population.

Near Me video consulting for groups continues to show positive impact in areas such as travel miles saved. However, enabled choice is driving greater uptake and engagement with 81% of people completing Near Me group courses over just 75% attending in person. The average weight loss is 3.2kg for Near Me group sessions for weight management groups, nearly twice the average weight loss (1.7kg) for an in-person session. Further information is published here -

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

In the absence of powers on employment legislation the Scottish government seeks to drive Fair Work by attaching criteria to grants, contracts and other public funding through our Fair Work First principles. Menopause support is one of the good practice examples in the Fair Work First guidance and directs employers to resources produced by NHS Inform and Close the Gap. Fair Work First criteria have been applied to public funding totalling £2.4 billion since 2019.

Under the Women’s Health plan, in October 2023 NHS Scotland launched their National Menopause and Menstrual Health Policy for their workforce of around 180,000. This policy was designed to apply to any employer and we continue to promote it across public, private and third sectors.

The recently concluded Workplace Equality Fund supported four menopause-related projects, from which lessons learned and resources created will be shared widely with employers across Scotland alongside wider guidance, advice and support on all aspects of Fair Work as part of a fair work resource hub currently being developed with input from employers.