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This is not a reduction in the Scottish Government's funding awarded to Creative Scotland. Over the last five years, the Scottish Government has provided over £33m to Creative Scotland to compensate for a shortfall in National Lottery funding. As a result of rising costs and pressure on budgets across government, we are unable to make up the ongoing shortfall this year.

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture asked the Creative Scotland Board on 27 September to use £6.6m of their reserves to ensure all payments to regularly funded organisations are met in full. I am pleased that the Board approved this approach and will make up the £6.6m shortfall from their funding reserves, which total £17m. This will mean that the regularly funded organisations will not receive reduced funding this financial year.

Subject to the usual Parliamentary processes we will provide the National Lottery shortfall funding of £6.6m to Creative Scotland in 2024-2025.

I recently met with representatives from Community Land Scotland to discuss the Land Reform Bill and I will consider its proposals in the ‘Beyond community benefit – a new deal for thriving communities’ paper.

We are committed to introducing a Land Reform Bill to further improve transparency of land ownership, help ensure large scale land holdings deliver in the public interest, and empower communities by providing more opportunities to own land and have more say in how land in their area is used.

This new Bill will build on our land reform measures to date and will complement existing community right to buy mechanisms. The Scottish Land Fund, which was increased to £11m this year, is available to community groups across Scotland, whether they are acquiring an asset through any of these rights, or entering into a negotiated sale with a willing seller. We have committed to increasing this to £20m by the end of 2026.

Scottish companies already have a wide range of options when it comes to participating in international trade missions. They can apply to participate in missions hosted by Scottish Development International and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce which are guided by the priorities set out in A Trading Nation, our export plan. Companies can also join trade missions run by the Department of Business and Trade.

Given the wide range of options already available to companies we currently have no plans to participate in joint trade missions with Scotland Office.

We have regular dialogue with our colleagues in the UK Government, particularly the Department for Business and Trade regarding promoting Scotland’s overseas trade links. However, we were not made aware of the Secretary of State for Scotland’s visit to Vietnam.

The Scottish Government is clear in its expectation of producers to drive mortality to the lowest possible levels. Our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture articulates our expectation of improvements to fish health and welfare, and we will continue to work with regulators, producers, innovation centres and fish vets to better understand the reasons for mortality and to encourage adaptation to challenges. Increases in sea water production mortality should be considered in the context of the trend seen since 2002, which indicates stable average mortality levels with peaks and troughs in different years.

I have lead responsibility for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on specific litter or flytipping incidents, which are reported to local authorities or SEPA.

Let me assure you that this scheme is a priority for us. It is a key recommendation in STPR2, it is included in the Programme for Government 2023 to 2024 as well as the First Minister’s Policy Prospectus, highlighting our commitment to a solution to the challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful. Also, at the travelling cabinet meeting in Inveraray on 2 nd October this year, the First Minister gave a firm commitment to the preferred route option for the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful and the funding needed to deliver it.

The next step for the project, which is the detailed design and assessment of the preferred debris flow shelter option announced in June, is progressing at pace. This step should conclude by the end of 2024 with the publication of draft Orders for comment. Progress thereafter will depend on the level and nature of any representations, including objections, to the published draft Orders.

As with all our infrastructure projects, construction of the long term solution can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.

At the same time, improvements to the existing Old Military Road (OMR) through the Glen Croe corridor are being made to make it a more resilient diversion route until the long term solution is in place. A detailed programme for the proposed improvements is being developed, but it is expected that these works will be carried out on a phased basis starting later this year.

The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme, the only one in the UK, opened for registration on 15 June 2017. Nationwide delivery of Baby Boxes began on 15 August 2017 for all babies born and resident in Scotland.

We commenced issue of reusable nappy vouchers with a QR code at the start of September, giving parents the option to register for the reusable nappy kits by QR code or by post.

We are committed to ensuring every baby born in Scotland should get the best start in life by ensuring that every family with a new-born has access to essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life.

We have had no specific discussions of bankruptcy with local authorities and no local authorities have indicated concerns of potential bankruptcy.

We recognise the challenging environment local authorities face and that is why we are committed to a New Deal with Local Government in order to ensure the sustainability of local services.