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The Scottish Government records and processes correspondence addressed to Scottish Ministers on its Ministerial and Corporate Correspondence (MiCase) System. Since the start of 2023, there have been three pieces of correspondence regarding gene editing recorded and processed via the MiCase system.

Scottish Government officials are also in frequent contact with a range of stakeholders and officials in other UK administrations, where gene editing may form part of ongoing correspondence around regular liaison meetings on a range of policy topics.

Private investment from the partnership will cover all capital costs although land managers may also choose to apply to existing grant schemes, in which case there will be a mix of funding. The usual processes and policies for public grants will apply.

Until investment cases have been completed and agreements reached with individual land managers, it is not possible to determine the proportion of funding that will each come from private investment, existing grant schemes and, if applicable, landowners. It is likely that this will vary from project to project.

Not being a party to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Scottish Land Commission did not provide comment or input into its wording. The MOU published in March incorrectly listed the Scottish Land Commission as having a decision making role on the project board, rather than correctly identifying its role as advisory. Both NatureScot and the Scottish Land Commission have since clarified the role of the SLC with the partnership.

As this partnership is at an early stage, NatureScot is currently not able to provide an estimate of the staff resource costs associated with this work. The Scottish Land Commission’s advisory role will be provided in line with its existing good practice programme.

61 Slurry Storage applications will be considered for funding through the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme for 2023.

The Scottish Government is not looking to revise the GP contract to affect the ability of GP practices to charge for voluntary completion of Debt and Mental Health Evidence Forms in Scotland. This is not work that could be considered covered by general medical services funding so if GP practices are not permitted to charge, there is a risk they will not carry out the work when requested.

The majority of civil servants are not allocated to work directly for individual Ministers as part of their roles in supporting and delivering the Scottish Government’s priorities. Work related to my responsibilities is no different.

I have one member of staff allocated to work in my private office.

Any form of human trafficking or exploitation is completely unacceptable.

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, which was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament, gives police and prosecutors greater powers to detect and bring to justice those responsible for trafficking as well as strengthening protections for survivors.

In the current financial year, Migrant Help and the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance will share over £2.1m to support adult victims of human trafficking and exploitation. We are also providing funding to Justice and Care to support two Victim Navigators who work alongside Police Scotland's National Human Trafficking Unit; funding to JustRight Scotland to support the work of their Scottish Anti-Trafficking Centre, including the provision of early legal advice to potential victims. Furthermore, we are funding Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland to deliver a long-term support pilot to those recovering and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide a national psychological trauma support service to adult trafficking victims.

We will continue to work with partners across Scotland and beyond to provide support to victims and combat those who seek to profit from the exploitation of others.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15719 on 22 March 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

The increase in funding to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) in 2023/24 reflects re-profiled spending plans for the Edinburgh Biomes project.

The Scottish Government does not seek to replicate the work of the Cass Review. However, as we have previously stated, the interim findings of that Review continue to be closely considered by both Scottish Government and NHS Scotland, alongside broader national and international evidence. As part of this, officials and senior clinicians from the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland have also met with Dr Cass and members of the Cass Review team to discuss respective approaches.

Our Strategic Action Framework for NHS gender identity service improvement includes a commitment to support the establishment of nationally commissioned Young Person’s Gender Identity Service. Discussions and scoping with NHS National Services Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to consider current and future national provision, are ongoing.