Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19481 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

Now that the Bank is fully established, and has a growing portfolio of investments, work is underway to create the advisory group. The advisory group will provide advice to Scottish Ministers on the Bank’s objects, conduct and performance.

The Scottish Government is considering options for remit and membership.

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

As the answer of 20 June set out, the Scottish Government is committed to promoting positive outcomes for workers and their rights. The Scottish Government engages regularly with the UK Government at a variety of levels in order to advocate for these outcomes, and to raise concerns where we see workers’ rights being threatened. For example, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade recently to raise concerns that elements of the UK Government’s proposed approach to retained EU legislation could undermine workers’ rights. Scottish Government ministers have also repeatedly raised objections to the Strikes (Minimum Services Level) Bill.

While labour market enforcement is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government will not hesitate to raise concerns with the UK Government where necessary.

The Scottish Government has routine and regular discussions with the Scottish National Investment Bank on a range of matters, including the performance of its investment portfolio. The Bank makes independent decisions on individual investments and the terms attached to those investments following extensive due diligence and risk assessment in line with other commercial investors and other development banks. Scottish Ministers and officials have no role in those decisions and/or the relationship between the Bank and the businesses it invests in.

The Bank reports annually on the performance of its investments. It publishes an Impact Report in April and lays an Annual Report and Accounts in Parliament by the end of September each year.

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-19744 on‎ 17 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

The Scottish Government is providing support to primary care services in their implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standard 7 through three routes:

The first is through our ringfencing £30m as set out in our Cross Government Plan, over the course of 3 years, from the Scottish Government’s Enhanced Services Allocation to NHS territorial Boards, from April 2023, in order to accelerate the adoption of Enhanced Services for drug services across Scotland. Local areas will be asked to prioritise use of this funding to improve outcomes for people who use drugs.

The second is through our commissioning Public Health Scotland to consider and develop a reference suite of best practice models that should provide local areas with guidance on how they might adapt primary care delivery to integrate drugs services in a way that suits local needs. The material will be derived from a critical examination of international and domestic experience of drug service provision in primary care settings, including through direct consultation with delivery partners on the ground and with our Drugs Policy Clinical Advisory Group, providing insight into a breadth of applicable scenarios and solutions.

The third is through targeted support and intervention from Public Health Scotland’s MAT Implementation Support Team (MIST), who work closely with local areas to evaluate and progress implementation across the range of MAT Standards 1-10.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19744 on‎ 17 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

The Scottish Government Ministerial team has met with National Museums Scotland (NMS) on several occasions since May 2021. The meetings were as follows:

9 September 2021 Angus Robertson in his role as Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture had a private tour of the Galloway Hoard at National Museum of Scotland.

26 October 2021 Jenny Gilruth as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development had a meeting with the NMS Chair and Director.

4 March 2022 Neil Gray in his role as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine had a meeting with the NMS Director and Finance Director to discuss the NMS budget.

4 May 2022 Angus Robertson met the NMS Chair and Director.

1 June 2022 Neil Gray visited the National Museum of Flight and met with the NMS Chair and Director.

8 June 2022 Angus Robertson attended an NMS Board meeting.

1 Dec 2022 Angus Robertson had a phone call with the NMS Chair.

6 Dec 2022 Angus Robertson met the Chairs of NMS and NLS at the Scottish Parliament to discuss the future of Scotland's National Collections.

15 Dec 2022 Neil Gray had a budget call with the Chair of NMS budget day.

22 March 2023 Neil Gray met with the NMS Chair and Director to discuss key priorities.

27 June 2023 I, as newly appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, had an introductory meeting with the NMS Chair and Director.

As a public body in receipt of grant-in-aid officials have met regularly with the National Museums Scotland since May 2021.