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Scotland really is a land of food and drink, with so many high quality and delicious products, renowned and sought after at home and internationally. That’s why making the most of the fantastic food and drink produced here in Scotland has always been at the heart of the Scottish Government’s food policies.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy food and drink produced locally and for producers of all sizes to access the markets on their doorsteps. So today, the Scottish Government is publishing "Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey" – our Local Food Strategy.

This Strategy has been developed following the Local Food for Everyone consultation and outlines how the Scottish Government and partners will ensure the people of Scotland continue to have access to the best produce Scotland has to offer.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed their thoughts, views, ideas and experiences to help inform the development and content of the Strategy.

Link to "Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey" https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217696

As set out in our draft budget the capital funding position is extremely challenging, with a UK Government cut of some 10% in our capital budget over the next five years. That has inevitably led to some difficult decisions on what capital projects will be progressed.

Kincardine and Lochgelly Medical Centres were not included within the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26, which identified the priority health capital projects for funding within that period. The Scottish Government will bring forward a revised Infrastructure Investment Plan in the spring, alongside the medium-term financial strategy, at which point we would hope that the fiscal outlook will be clearer.

Scottish Forestry estimate that the draft Budget will support over 9,000 hectares of new woodland in Scotland, which will be more woodland creation than the rest of the UK combined. We are engaging with stakeholders so that we can maximise tree planting and the delivery the benefits for climate, the economy, people and nature.

The Scottish Government has no plans to fund a fish counter on the River Dee .

As set out in the answer of 8 January 2024 the in-year budget changes impacted on both new and existing programmes which could not proceed as anticipated. This included activities related to Mental Health and Primary Care; regional CAMHS developments; full implementation of Coming Home; full implementation of the new Mental Welfare Commission Patient Records System; and improving prisoner mental health.

The purpose of the ScotRail Peak Fares is broader, to find out whether such a measure helps move people from car to rail use, but also to help passengers facing cost of living pressures. We know that price and simplicity is crucial for people when choosing how to travel.

Many passengers will enjoy significantly reduced fares, with fares that are available all day, every day, which will hopefully encourage more people to reduce their car use and to use more public transport instead, in line with our Programme for Government commitment to encourage a shift towards sustainable transport.

The Scottish Government Brussels office was established in 1999 and staffing records covering the entirety of its existence are not held. The currently held information on staffing numbers, job titles and pay grade is outlined below.

1. Staffing numbers

18-19 – 16

19-20 – 17

20-21 – 17

22-23 – 17

23-24 - 17

2. Job titles and pay grade

Director

Deputy Director

Senior Policy Adviser Energy and Marine – SG A-C band*

Senior Policy Adviser Research and Innovation - SG A-C band

Senior Policy Adviser Trade, Economics and Inclusive Growth - SG A-C band

Head, International Justice Cooperation Unit - SG A-C band

Senior Policy Adviser Political, EU Institutions and Engagement - SG A-C band

Marine Planning and Strategy Manager - SG A-C band

EU Policy Officer - Trade & Economic Development - SG A-C band

Policy Adviser - Environment & Transport - SG A-C band

Policy and Communications Officer - SG A-C band

Events and Visits Manager - Country based staff (CBS) A-B band

Policy Officer: European Parliament and Bilateral - CBS A-B band

Executive Assistant to Director and Deputy Director - CBS Administrative Officer

Finance, Administrative Support Officer - CBS Administrative Officer

Corporate Services - CBS Administrative Officer

Policy and Communications Support Officer - CBS Intern

The staffing profile of the office has remained in place for the period covered by point 1), except for the addition of the 'EU Policy Officer - Trade & Economic Development' post in 2019-20.

* Please note we are unable to provide a small amount of the information you have requested relating to the specific pay grades of each member of staff. This information is personal data of a third party, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

The Scottish Government Office in China has operated with 4 members of staff since its establishment in 2005. Provided below are details of salary scale and job titles:

The Scottish Government Office in Copenhagen has operated with 3 members of staff since its established in 2022.

Provided below are details of salary scale and job titles for Scotland House London from 2017-18: