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The Scottish Government intends to lay changes to planning legislation regarding betting offices before the Scottish Parliament by the end of the year. The proposed changes will remove the current exemption from planning control that applies when certain premises change to betting shops.

The power to legislate on the maximum bet permitted on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals remains reserved to the UK Government.

The Scotland Act 2016 only included a limited power in respect of setting the number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in new betting shops.

The rules governing the use of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Government argued in the Smith Commission for the full devolution of gambling policy to Scotland on the grounds that this would enable problem gambling in Scotland to be tackled more effectively.

The UK Government is currently undertaking a wide ranging review of gaming machines. The review covers a number of areas including maximum gaming machines stakes and prizes, allocations of gaming machines in licensed premises, and social responsibility measures to minimise the risk of gambling related harm.

The Scotland Act 2016 included only a limited power in respect of the number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in new betting shops. This does not include any powers in respect of existing premises, or those found in premises other than betting shops. The Scottish Government will consider the outcome of the UK consultation before taking a view on what use of the limited powers available in Scotland might be proposed.

The data in the following table is taken from Health Protection Scotland’s website at:

It is estimated 1,871 people will have been treated for hepatitis C in the financial year 2016-17.

Details are as follows:

There is no data for NHS Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles because there are no specialist Hepatitis C services available in these Board areas. It is also worth noting that treatment initiations in 2015-16 are based on the NHS board where treatment was administered. In the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, treatment initiations are based on the patient’s NHS board of residence where known.

The Care Inspectorate, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, operates a formal complaints procedure for anyone who is unhappy about a registered care service. This procedure explains people's right to receipt of high quality services and what steps they can take if they feel this is not being met. Details of how people can register a complaint is well publicised on the Care Inspectorate's website.

Additionally National Care Standards stipulate that service providers must make available to service users and their families details of their complaint handling procedures. This information is provided to everyone receiving a registered care service and ensures they are fully familiar with their rights and expectations from the outset.

Together these easily accessible information ensures service users are made aware of what to do should they wish to complain about a care service, or challenge the findings of any such investigations.

All health professionals are expected to demonstrate through both work based learning and self-directed learning, the knowledge and skills in end of life care to satisfy the core competencies of their profession.

The requirements and content of training curricula is a matter for the Royal Colleges and is approved by the General Medical Council as regulator of the medical profession.

All Healthcare professionals including mental health practitioners are expected to assess and address their learning needs to deliver the high quality services required by their local population; this includes end of life/palliative considerations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03333 on 27 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

As previously advised in that answer, the service is expected to be up and running by Spring 2017. I can confirm that the recruitment process for the specialist clinical posts, including relevant neurosurgeons, is currently underway, as is equipment procurement.

I can also confirm that, pending the start of the new service, we continue to ensure that everyone in Scotland who is considered clinically suitable for Deep Brain Stimulation has access to it.

Opt-out blood borne virus testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV is available for all new prisoners at HMP Castle Huntly, Cornton Vale, Glenochil, Grampian, Kilmarnock, Perth, Polmont and Shotts, while Barlinne, Greenock and Low Moss have an opt-out approach for Hepatitis C and HIV. We are working with NHS boards to deliver the service in the remaining prisons.