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The Scottish Government’s vision is to use data systematically to improve decision making: saving lives, money and time. In doing so, we will enhance Scotland’s reputation for the safe, secure and transparent use of data for public benefit; rapidly translating our strengths into benefits for citizens, businesses and communities. To achieve this the Scottish Government is collaborating with a range of public sector organisations and academic institutes such as The Data Lab, Urban Big Data Centre, Farr Institute and Administrative Data research Centre to deliver a number of data innovation projects.

These collaborations have already delivered benefits. For example, sharing data between FE colleges, Universities, the Department for Work and Pensions has helped Skills Development Scotland better target its services and deliver an increased number of young people engaged in work or study.

The Scottish Government is also collaborating with these organisation to explore the potential to apply predictive analytics to support the shift to prevention. This includes, for example, the application of predictive analytics to large datasets such as linked health datasets to inform and support a reduction in delayed discharges from hospital. This project uses data about people who arrive in hospital to predict when they will leave, whether they will need social care and the care they will need.

The Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care (SFA) was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Marie Curie, and outlines the key actions to be taken that will help ensure that everyone in Scotland can access services that respond to their individual palliative and end of life care needs.

The National Implementation Support Group on Palliative and End of Life Care (NIAG) regularly considers reports on progress on the implementation of, and provides advice to the Scottish Government on, how best to take forward the commitments set out in the SFA. The NIAG last met in December 2016 and will next meet on 29 March 2017.

The Scottish Government is committed to consulting widely on the development of our new Diet and Obesity Strategy which will be brought forward in the course of 2017. In developing that strategy we will examine with our stakeholders what further effective actions can be taken, within the powers of this Government, to impact on moving and supporting Scotland's population towards better and healthier lifestyle choices.

We have already introduced a 2034 tobacco-free target as part of a tobacco strategy, reflecting the fact that smoking rates in Scotland are declining, including among young people. Our ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’ strategy and the accompanying £100 million investment over five years, serves as a blueprint for the future of cancer services in Scotland, improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, aftercare and ultimately the survival, of people affected by cancer.

The main focus for Scottish Government is that patients have a right to expect high-quality and nutritious food that meets their specific needs and aids recovery.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran provides patients with high quality and nutritionally balanced meals, based on a wide menu choice. Meals are prepared on site daily, using fresh produce to ensure that good, wholesome meals are provided to their patients. This approach is reflected in the 'Inpatient Experience Survey 2016' results where 81% of patients in NHS Ayrshire and Arran reported that they were happy with the food/meals they received.

To help reduce waste and therefore costs, NHS Ayrshire and Arran ask patients to choose their next meal as close as possible to the meal time, this means that their rate of unserved meals is very low, on average three per cent.

In order to ensure best value, NHS Ayrshire and Arran purchase their food and beverages from national procurement contracts agreed by NHS National Services Scotland (National Procurement), who use the combined buying power of NHS Boards throughout Scotland, to get the best possible deals on supplies and services. By buying through national contracts, NHS Ayrshire and Arran also saves money, to redirect into front line patient care.

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 will reply in writing within 20 days.

Because we are determined to increase representation of disabled people in our democratic institutions, the Scottish Government established the Access to Elected Office Fund (Scotland) to help disabled people put themselves forward as candidates by helping to meet the additional costs disabled people face when seeking election.

The fund was initially established to cover the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections and 2017 local government elections. But in the Disability Delivery Plan I published in December 2016, we included a commitment to extend the fund to cover the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021.

Additionally and building on a pilot programme being delivered by SCVO and Inclusion Scotland in 2016-17, the Disability Delivery Plan included a commitment to deliver a disability internship programme, providing disabled people with 120 employment opportunities in the third and public sectors and in politics, over the period 2017-2021.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06951 on 22 February 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: .

On 24 June 2016, following the result of the EU referendum, the First Minister made it clear that she would respond to the democratic decision taken by the people of Scotland and explore all options to protect Scotland’s vital national interests. This included providing as much immediate reassurance and certainty as possible, taking all possible steps and exploring all options to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU and place in the single market, and consideration of a further independence referendum if it became clear that was the only or best way of protecting Scotland’s interests.

All staff in the Scottish Government were informed of these commitments through internal communications.

The Scottish Government is providing £17,000 in 2016-17 from the Children, Young People & Families Early Intervention Fund to support John Muir Awards. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is also providing £96,000 for delivery of John Muir Awards. The number of awards delivered in Scotland to the end of Quarter 3 of 2016-17 was 16,241.

Scotland’s two National Parks provide support for the John Muir Award. Since August 2013, a total of 4,776 John Muir Awards have been achieved in and around the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. In the Cairngorms National Park the John Muir Award has been used as a primary education model since 2003 and approximately 3,000 awards are completed each year.

The Scottish Government, SNH and the two National Parks also support a range of initiatives to encourage engagement with wildlife and nature. The 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity published by the Scottish Government in 2013 () sets out our approach to protecting biodiversity and promoting engagement with nature.

SNH are contributing to the development of Our Natural Health Service () and the National Walking and Cycling Network (). SNH also provide information for the public on enjoying the outdoors responsibly ().

Both of Scotland’s National Parks support activities to encourage engagement with wildlife and nature. Details are available on their websites: and .