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The pharmaceuticals sector plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the life sciences sector and as a result is a key contributor to the growth and development of the Scottish economy.

The manufacturing of pharmaceuticals sector is an important source of entrepreneurial activity, supporting GVA and employment throughout Scotland. The pharmaceuticals sector is a key driver of innovation and productivity in the economy with a GVA per head of employment of £200,700 in 2020, more than 3 times the Scottish average.

Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy was published on 6 June 2023 and it identifies a number of key areas where Scotland has a competitive advantage and a strong research and business base. Health & Life Sciences is one of these areas and one of four broad innovation themes on which future activity will focus. The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the further growth and scaling of one of the biggest life sciences clusters in Europe and the pharmaceutical industry will play a crucial part in the sector’s development of world leading excellence, bringing in investment and creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

As part of the 2023-24 budget we have provided SCTS with £4.7m in additional capital funding, on top of their £8m baseline capital allocation. The additional £4.7m was identified within the Justice portfolio budget to support a number of priority SCTS capital projects, including towards the costs in 2023-24 of the replacement of the Office of the Public Guardian IT system, as part of wider modernisation and improvement in the work of the OPG. Work on the new OPG IT system is progressing as planned.

Circularity Scotland Limited is a private not for profit company set up by industry. As an independent private company, it is not required to report to the Scottish Government. Therefore the Scottish Government does not hold any information on expenditure incurred by Circularity Scotland during the financial year 2022-2023. Circularity Scotland is currently in administration. More information on this can be found at: Interpath Administrators appointed to Circularity Scotland Ltd (interpathadvisory.com) .

We welcome the start of Hainan’s direct service between Edinburgh Airport and Beijing which we have promoted through our social media channels in China, with over 500,000 impressions to date. We wish Edinburgh Airport and Hainan every success with this service. The Scottish Government’s engagement with China continues to support political, economic, cultural, education, and social relationships with the people of China in keeping with the values of Scotland.

The Scottish Government is not aware on which specific date Circularity Scotland first informed Scottish Enterprise that it was at risk of going in to administration.

We are committed to replacing HMP Barlinnie with HMP Glasgow which is being designed to deliver safe and secure accommodation, with maximum possible benefit and opportunity to those who live and work there, as well as surrounding communities.

Time-scales for the replacement prison will be set out once a final design is available and transition plans will be developed closer to the date of transition.

When planning to decant a part of, or an entire prison, SPS will communicate and consult with the affected population, and ensure that each individual’s needs are taken into account when considering the relocation. For affected staff, individual needs and requirements are also taken into account before any change in their working location.

Since April 2019, a range of Scottish Government funding has been made available to Local Government partners as the scope of delivery under No One Left Behind expands over time. This includes funding for the initial phase of No One Left Behind (April 2019), the Parental Employability Support Fund (February 2020) and the Young Person's Guarantee (November 2020).

The Scottish Government publishes summary information on Scotland's devolved employability services covering both Fair Start Scotland and No One Left Behind on a quarterly basis. Data for No One Left Behind is presented in its totality and not broken down by funding type. The most recent statistics published on 22 February 2023 covering the reporting period April 2020 to September 2022 show that 5,944 parents have started receiving support through No One Left Behind, 1,006 (17%) of whom are under the age of 25.

More information can be found at: Scotland's Devolved Employment Services: statistical summary February 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19474 on 18 July 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19474 on 18 July 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

I am aware that all three of the SJC Trade Unions have balloted members on proposed industrial action. However, the negotiations on local government pay are rightly between COSLA as the representative of the employer, local government, and the Trade Unions representing the workforce. The Scottish Government has no role in those negotiations and, the recently signed Verity House Agreement, contains an explicit commitment to respect the existing negotiating arrangements for pay.

Let me emphasise that I recognise and value the crucial role councils and their employees play in communities across Scotland. I also recognise the challenging financial circumstances workers face in the current cost of living crisis. In recognition of this, and despite the most challenging financial settlement since devolution, we have already provided £155 million in additional funding to support the current local government pay offer for 2023-24 which COSLA Leaders agreed to on 31 March.

The Scottish Government recognises that any offer made by COSLA needs to provide a balance of fairness with affordability and sustainability and recognise the essential contribution of the local government workforce. I note the offer on the table from COSLA is worth 5.5% in year and the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is 7%. Importantly, the offer is progressive and means those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage would get 9.12% and those at some of the higher grades would see a rise of 6.05%. I understand that the offer made by COSLA already goes beyond the maximum uplift indicated within the Scottish Public Sector Pay strategy, reflecting the funding identified by COSLA, alongside the contribution from the Scottish Government, and the value placed on the local government workforce.

In the spirit of the Verity House Agreement, we will continue to work in partnership with COSLA to help in any way we can to support them. I encourage both parties to engage with each other to reach a negotiated settlement to avoid industrial action.