The number of patients that have been or are on the active kidney transplant waiting list as of 31 March each year since 2016 in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran and the Inverclyde local authority postcode areas is as follows:

A range of work, including via the National Gender Identity Healthcare Reference Group, is being undertaken to help improve service delivery of these clinical services.

In addition, the 2023-24 draft Scottish Budget provided £2 million for gender identity healthcare improvement within NHS Scotland.

I have not received any correspondence from the National Farmers Union for Scotland on this matter.

The Scottish Government has undertaken reports on the economic condition of crofting, and the measures to support crofting in Scotland. The latest of these was published on Tuesday 20 December 2022, https://www.gov.scot/publications/economic-condition-crofting-2019-2022/ .

The importance of farming and crofting to our rural and island areas is fully appreciated by the Scottish Government.

I am aware that the NFU have raised an issue in relation to agricultural vehicles and CalMac’s systems. I am more than happy to meet with the NFU to discuss their concerns and to ensure systems are improved to support agricultural traffic when using the CalMac fleet, however I note I am yet to receive any formal representation from the NFU on this matter.

Commencement of Sections 10 to 40 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 will allow Sexual Harm Prevention Orders to be made in Scotland. Commencement of these provisions has been coordinated with the UK Government in order that we can commence the necessary provisions at the same time, to allow UK wide recognition of these orders. These provisions are expected to be commenced in the early part of this year.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS welcomes the Chief Inspector’s report and her recognition of many areas of good practice at HMP Castle Huntly.

Like many areas of public life, SPS continues to recover from the global pandemic. Despite this, SPS has been working towards making further improvements to the progression of those people in our care. This has resulted in an increase of 25 percent in the population of HMP Castle Huntly since April 2022.

We have also commenced a review of population management and progression, which will identify any barriers to safe progression for those in our care to the Open Estate and reduce the risk of reoffending to the public.

In the academic year 2020-21, there were 33,761 applications to the Higher Education Discretionary Funds across colleges and universities. The Discretionary Funds include the additional Covid Fund, introduced to support students during the pandemic.

27,500 applications were successful.

These figures come from the financial returns provided by colleges and universities, and reflect the applications made to them. The overall total applications number is not disaggregated into individual students’ applications - it could include several applications being made by the same individual student.

Data for 2021-22 is not yet available, and is due to be published in the annual SAAS Statistical Publication in August.

The Scottish Government is committed to advancing gender equality in Scotland, and since 2018 has introduced a range of legislative and other measures to implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Scotland.

This includes introduction of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 to ensure access to free period products, introduction of the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 to provide for consistent access to healthcare and forensic medical examinations without first making a report to police, publication of the Women’s Health Plan in 2021 to improve women’s health outcomes, and the expansion of free early learning and childcare provision. In addition, the Scottish government is committed to introducing a new Human Rights Bill which will incorporate CEDAW into Scots Law, as far as possible within devolved competence, andwill consult formally on proposals this year. Through incorporation of CEDAW the Scottish Government will enhance our efforts to eliminate the discrimination, traditional gender roles and stereotypes faced by women and girls. It will ensure a focus on fulfilling their human rights and development.

The UK’s 9th periodic report on the implementation of CEDAW is due to be submitted to the UN CEDAW Committee by the end of March 2023. In addition to contributing to the periodic report, the Scottish Government will publish a standalone Scottish Position Statement in 2023, reporting on progress made since 2018 under each of the articles of CEDAW.

The initial implementation date for the NDSP pilot was indicated as January 2023, however, this is currently under review by Police Scotland. I will meet with Police Scotland to discuss the importance of delivering the NDSP and to obtain a timescale for the programme’s implementation later this month.

There are currently no plans to implement the C:Card scheme across all NHS Boards in Scotland, however free condoms are available through a number of initiatives and can be accessed across the country.

All NHS Boards in Scotland offer free condoms, but the way in which this service is provided varies. Most NHS Boards offer free condoms by post to anyone living within the Board area, as well as making them available to pick up at various NHS facilities and other locations including some schools. Third sector organisations, such as Waverley Care and the Terrence Higgins Trust, also provide free condoms.

The Scottish Government are currently developing a refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework. As part of this work, the provision of contraception will be considered, and any learning from the C:Card scheme will be taken into account.

To Date the Scottish Government has had no contact with the UK Government regarding M&Co entering administration.

The Scottish Government will do everything in its power to help those affected by any possible forthcoming redundancies through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). Our PACE team contacted the administrators for M&Co immediately to offer support for any individuals affected by redundancy.

I have also contacted the administrators at Teneo directly and offered to speak with them to discuss the situation.