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The Scottish Government is committed to improving care for people with chronic kidney disease through a number of activities which are aligned with the recommendations set out in Kidney Research UK’s (KRUK) Changing the Future for Chronic Kidney Disease in Scotland report, published in December 2022 with input from Scottish Government clinical advisors and partners.

We are raising awareness of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and prevention of kidney disease by providing and promoting information on chronic kidney disease for patients and their families on NHS Inform .

Our Donation and Transplantation Plan was published in 2021 and sets out a dedicated priority to increase living donation and reduce the wait for a kidney transplant. This includes a number of recommendations to improve care, including developing resources and information to promote living donation , changing clinical practice in renal units, increasing direct engagement with patients and their families, and developing new guidance on staffing to support living donation.

We also continue to support the work of the Scottish Renal Registry which promotes excellence in renal care in Scotland including audits on the delivery of renal replacement therapy. The most recent report from registry was published by Public Health Scotland in October 2022 and provides vital information for Health Boards, service managers and individual clinicians to help improve care and standards for people with chronic kidney disease.

We will shortly publish a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Strategy will set out a long-term vision, and a set of outcomes, for mental health and wellbeing to ensure that everyone who needs support can get access to services that are appropriate to their needs.

Whilst we also welcome the recent report on the economic impact of the disease published in June, following our recent meeting with KRUK on 2 May 2023, we are not proposing to develop an individual action plan for this condition at this time. However, we remain committed to engaging with KRUK on these important matters to ensure that all people living with kidney disease are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective, and put people at the centre of their care.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the provision of ear wax removal within community NHS services. The new GP contract, introduced in 2018, committed Health Boards to set up Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services to provide ear wax removal in the community.

We are aware that gaps in delivery remain in certain areas, and are working closely with Health Boards, to collect and review the data on the workforce and financial resources required to fully deliver these services needs in order to inform consideration of the potential for additional investment in 2023-24.

Local authorities are directly responsible for teacher recruitment, and they have autonomy to provide incentives – as some already do - to attract teachers to their area.

We are providing £145.5 million in this year's budget to protect increased teacher numbers and support staff across all local authorities. In addition, through the Teacher Induction Scheme probationary teachers can receive a Preference Waiver Payment of up to £8,000 if they are willing to complete their probation anywhere in Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to provide teaching bursaries of £20,000 to incentivise career changers into initial teacher education for the hardest to fill subjects which includes Technical Education.

Through the Teacher Induction Scheme probationary teachers can receive a Preference Waiver Payment of up to £8,000, if they are willing to complete their probation anywhere in Scotland, including the north east.

Local authorities are directly responsible for teacher recruitment, and they have autonomy to provide incentives – as some already do - to attract teachers to their area.

The Scottish Government is working with partners and practitioners from across the childcare sector to develop a Strategic Framework for Scotland’s Early Learning and Childcare, School Age Childcare and Childminding Profession. The Framework will set out the priorities for the profession now, and in the coming years, as well as actions we will take with partners to support a sustainable, diverse and thriving profession. We expect to publish the Framework this summer.

The Scottish Government is proud that there are now an unprecedented 46,260 professionals supporting children and families across Scotland and that those professionals can pursue opportunities to progress and develop fulfilling careers in the sector. The Scottish Government does not have a role in determining the movement of staff between different types of provider.

I am, however, keen that there is a sustainable, diverse, highly skilled workforce to serve the whole childcare sector. That is why we are developing a Strategic Framework for the childcare profession which will set out actions to enhance the attractiveness of childcare roles and support retention of staff.

The judicial review decision about the City of Edinburgh Council's short-term lets licensing policy does not affect the timeframes for the implementation of short-term lets licensing as set out in legislation.

Since 1 October 2022, new short-term let hosts must obtain a licence, from the licensing authority where their accommodation is located, before they accept bookings and receive guests.

Transitional arrangements are in place for existing hosts, those operating their accommodation as short-term lets prior to 1 October 2022, enabling them to continue operating provided that they apply for a licence by 1 October 2023. Existing hosts will then be able to continue operating while their licence application is being processed and until it is determined.

Under the legislation, licensing authorities have up to 12 months to process applications from existing hosts and this can be extended by the courts for individual cases where there are good reasons to do so. If a licensing authority does not determine a licensing application within 12 months or apply to a court for an extension to continue its consideration, the application will be deemed to be granted for the period of one year. These provisions should provide assurance to the sector that they can continue to accept bookings and receive guests during this transitional period for existing hosts.

Circular Economy Business Support (CEBS) offers a range of support to small and medium-sized enterprises depending on the needs of each business. This includes, but is not limited to, technical and market support, developing growth strategies, building business cases, and assessing the market feasibility of novel products.

Over the last 5 years CEBS has supported 16 Scottish businesses to develop circular textile models. The following table provides a summary;

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the administrative, management and other operating costs of each Integration Joint Board.

The Scottish Government receives quarterly financial reporting from IJBs which includes information regarding funding and expenditure. This exercise began in 2018 and no data collection was performed by the Scottish Government in respect of IJB funding or expenditure prior to this. The reports consolidate information already in the public domain as published by individual IJBs, and are published on the Scottish Government website. They can be found here: NHS Scotland and Integration Authorities consolidated financial reporting: 2020-2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

Should the information requested not be available from this resource then a direct enquiry should be made with the relevant IJBs.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19223 on 28 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers