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I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23822 on 19 December 2023. 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 .

The Scottish Government welcomes the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) recommendation that the four nations should move towards implementing a targeted lung screening programme for those aged 55-74 with a history of smoking. However, the roll-out of any screening programme is a complex undertaking, and the UK NSC acknowledged in its recommendation that there remain a number of significant issues that must be worked through before a full programme of lung screening can be implemented. Scotland is a member of the four nations group established to explore some of these issues, and has also established its own targeted lung cancer screening Scottish Expert Advisory Group (SEAG).

The SEAG’s remit is to provide the Scottish Government with advice on the scoping, implementation, establishment and delivery of a targeted lung cancer screening programme. The first stage of this work is underway and will support development of an evidence-based assessment of timescales for design and implementation.

We are working to implement the commitments of our , to improve the provision of co-ordinated health and social care and support, develop sustainable workforce models and ensure high standards of person-centred care.

Whilst the Framework is not condition specific, it covers issues affecting people with all types of neurological conditions, including dystonia.

Despite the disruption to health and social care services during the pandemic, we have sustained our efforts to deliver the commitments of the Framework, awarding £2.6 million since October 2020 to fund innovative projects working to improve outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. A was published in July 2022.

The Scottish Government has been further working in partnership with NHS24 to update accessible public-facing information , and other neurological conditions, for the NHS Inform website.

The Scottish Government recognises the significant impact of Storm Babet on people, businesses and communities. The Government has been working closely with affected local authorities on a package of support to help people whose homes and businesses were flooded. This package includes extending the Bellwin scheme’s application window to help all Councils, including Argyll and Bute, cover eligible expenditure for urgent repairs.

The Scottish Welfare Fund also provides emergency support to those on low incomes in Scotland, including in Argyll and Bute. Support may be provided through the provision of Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants, including to those who have experienced a disaster situation, such as a flood. Residents can apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund through their Council.

This support is in addition to Scotland’s longer-term investment in flood resilience, where we have committed £150m over the course of this Parliament to deliver improved flood resilience, in addition to the £42m provided annually to councils for flood resilience through the general capital grant.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s mid-year registration data report covers a six-month period and reflects those with a Scottish address who have registered, it does not indicate actual employment in Scotland’s health sector. The report itself therefore cannot be used as a true reflection of recruitment in Scotland.

Whilst the report shows a 22% increase in registration in Scotland compared to a 27.7% increase in registration across the UK in the last six months relative to the same period last year, nursing and midwifery levels per head of population show that we have 8.4 qualified Nurses and Midwives per 1,000 population, compared to 6.3 in England, 8.2 in Wales and 9.1 in Northern Island. This means nursing and midwifery levels are 32% higher, per head of population in Scotland than in England. Overall Nursing and Midwifery staffing in Scotland is at a record high and remains the best paid across the UK.

The Scottish Government uses a range of measures and sources to consider and report on the impact of the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.

Nationally published data, such as the annual is used to consider the impact of this fund. It is encouraging that the latest statistics show an improving position for care experienced children and young people. Whilst real progress has been made, there remains a sizeable gap between the educational outcomes of care experienced children and young people and all pupils. It’s within that context that Scottish Government officials are currently working with local government to develop a long-term approach to improving these outcomes in response to the Promise.

The impact of the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund is also considered as part of the . The , published in February 2023 and, most recently, the published 22 September 2023. Evidence from the latter of those shows the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund is viewed to have supported strategic decision-making to improve attainment or outcomes for care experienced children and young people within respondent local authorities. Dedicated postholders such as Virtual Headteachers were also highlighted for their positive contribution towards joint working and capacity building.

Existing local authority Education Standards and Quality reports (or local equivalent reports) are also used to report on the progress being made with the support of all Attainment Scotland Funding, including the Care Experienced Children and Young People Funding. Within these reports each local authority presents a clear narrative on the extent to which this funding has influenced and supported local approaches to making progress towards identified stretch aims and achieving the mission of the Scottish Attainment Challenge. Many local authorities have also set specific targets for care experienced children and young people in their stretch aims and these are .

is designed to help us deliver the twin aims of excellence and equity; galvanising efforts and aligning our collective improvement activities across all partners in the education system to address our key priorities. At national level, this Improvement Plan summarises the key evidence and identifies both ongoing and new improvement activity that we will be taking forward or supporting at national level. These plans also play a role in measuring ongoing activity and the impact of this fund.

I have Ministerial portfolio responsibility for access to new medicines in Scotland. Accordingly, as you know, I met with you on 6 December 2023 together with representatives of Scottish cystic fibrosis (CF) families to listen to their concerns directly.

In addition, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) engages with representatives of Quest for a Cure, a patient group who represent Scottish CF families, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

As part of work being undertaken to develop the new Palliative Care Strategy, we are gathering and analysing evidence to tell us what actions should be taken to achieve the aim of ensuring that everyone in Scotland receives well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death, and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences.

We have set up a number of working groups, bringing together stakeholders with expertise in priority areas for action, and these groups are developing recommended actions for inclusion in the strategy for discussion with the Strategy Steering Group (SSG) at its next meeting.

At the September meeting of the SSG there was discussion on the progress of the working groups and work being done to better understand people’s lived experiences of palliative care, as well as the proposed structure and timeline for the Strategy. A minute of the meeting will be available on the SG website, at , once this has been agreed by the group.

The new Palliative Care Strategy aims to ensure that everyone in Scotland, regardless of location, receives well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences, including support for families and carers.

We are aware of the importance of ensuring that the Strategy takes account of the differing needs of people living in rural and island areas, and of the particular challenges in these areas. Work is currently being undertaken to understand the lived experiences of users of palliative care services in rural and island settings. We have also asked our working groups, who are feeding into the Strategy, to give particular consideration to the impact that any actions they are recommending may have on rural and island areas.