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My officials have held numerous engagements with a range of employers in relation to the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, and updates in Fair Work Policy. Specifically, applying the Fair Work criteria to public sector grants, other funding, and contracts where it’s relevant and proportionate to do so. This includes employers being asked to commit to no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.

We continue to press the UK Government for the full devolution of employment powers in order to allow us to fully deliver our Fair Work ambitions. We firmly oppose improper use of zero-hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.

We have given £250,000 annually for the last seven years to the STUC through the Trade Union Fair Work and Modernisation Fund to support their efforts in tackling precarious work and promoting fair work in under-unionised sectors. We maintain regular contact with STUC to ensure the funding is used effectively.

In 2021 we introduced a Living Hours Employer Accreditation Scheme for Scotland, recognising that as well as payment of the real Living Wage, the number and frequency of working hours and security of contract are critical to addressing in-work poverty.

Our export growth plan, A Trading Nation, committed to evaluating the existing Trade & Investment Envoy network with a view to increasing the number of envoys from the four (at the time) to twelve. This would be subject to a review of the current arrangements and the identification of candidates with the right knowledge, experience and connections in the right markets to best support Scotland’s trade and investment ambitions.

There are currently 11 Trade & Investment Envoy based around the globe. The majority of Envoys are focused on promoting trade and investment within a specific market (Indonesia, Poland, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, New Zealand and the Unites States of America), while some have a sector-focus (International Higher Education and Capital Investment). A link to the current list of Trade and Investment Envoys can be found here .

Although the Scottish Government does not currently have any firm plans to grow the network, we are planning on evaluating the T&I Envoy Network to consider the markets and sectors within which they operate and this will inform the future focus and shape of the network.

Scotland’s culture is recognised across the world. It is a massive asset to our country in cultural and economic terms, but also in its potential to open doors and support Scotland’s wider international relationships. As such, we have committed to develop an International Culture Strategy to ensure that cultural links with our partners around the world are developed further and international engagement can help these sectors to recover and flourish.

It is vital that our International Culture Strategy reflects, and is fully informed by the views, experience and expertise of those working in our culture and creative sectors. In order to ensure this, we are currently carrying out a programme of stakeholder engagement to gather views on priorities for the strategy, including a public survey which closed for responses on 12 May 2023.

Close engagement with stakeholders will continue alongside the development of the strategy throughout 2023. Timelines have adapted as the development process has proceeded and requirements have become apparent. We aim to publish the strategy by the end of March 2024.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes were introduced to deal with the problem of landlords and letting agents who unfairly withheld deposits from tenants. In Scotland a custodial scheme is operated by 3 schemes approved by Scottish Ministers.

Tenants benefit from having deposits safeguarded by an independent third party. Section 33 and 34 of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 sets out the requirements for all approved schemes to provide a free and independent dispute resolution service, so that the deposit can be returned quickly and fairly.

Scottish Government cannot intervene with individual deposit disputes and cannot intervene in decisions made by the independent adjudicator in relation to a tenancy deposit case.

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to engage with Scottish heritage organisations internationally, supporting these organisations to broaden their appeal to young people, including supporting appointment of Youth Officers and establishing scholarships and youth exchanges.

The Scottish Government will not appoint diaspora Youth Officers but will support and encourage diaspora organisations in their efforts to broaden their membership and appeal to younger generations.

My officials in Scottish Enterprise continue to remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators, Interpath Advisory and continue to work with them to consider all viable options for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen.

The administration process continues to progress, and I understand the Stoneywood site continues to be marketed by the Joint Administrators.

I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

SPS anticipates publication of the policy review in Autumn this year. This will include the revised policy, guidance, Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment (EHRIA) and the evidence which underpins the policy position.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise investment in frontline services, providing an increase of over £730 million to NHS Boards in 2023-24 – investing over £352 million in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Under the SNP, staffing in NHS Dumfries & Galloway has increased by 19.7% since 2006.

We will continue to work with all Health Boards, including NHS Dumfries & Galloway, to address financial and workforce pressures across the system.

Our Sustainability and Value programme has been established to deliver essential reform and sustainable services that are fit for the future, whilst prioritising patient safety.

The deposit return scheme is a major undertaking for businesses, bringing very significant environmental and economic benefits. Accordingly, we have regularly consulted with a wide range of businesses, trade associations, the scheme administrator, and other organisations as part of the decision making process.

The suite of impact assessments has been updated to reflect the draft regulations laid in May 2023, and as part of this, the Scottish Government has produced a supplementary analysis to the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment. This document includes the economic impacts of the amendments to the scheme announced in April. We will publish updated impact assessments in due course.

This is a matter for universities and colleges.

Higher Education institutions are autonomous bodies; and Further Education institutions each have a Board of Management and are responsible for their own financial and strategic management.

It is their responsibility to carry out a Fire Safety Risk Assessment and keep that assessment up to date. Based on the findings of the assessment institutions need to ensure appropriate fire prevention and safety measures are in place.

In terms of flood prevention, institutions should ensure that campus buildings are well maintained, wind and watertight. They should have in place maintenance programmes to reduce the risk of water damage.