Chamber and committees

First, decisions about local provision are, in the first instance, for local authorities.

I reprise my point that we are being well advised by the Scottish Library and Information Council, which is looking at many of the issues that Tess White raises. I have not yet received its report. Given the member’s strong interest in the subject, I would be grateful if she would share her examples with the short-life advisory group, and copy me in, so that I can better understand her points about the region that she represents.

I listened closely to what has just been raised, which is a matter of concern. Our proceedings are watched outside the chamber, including by the likes of the Scottish Library and Information Council. I would be grateful if the member could forward me information about those cases, because that sounds very concerning. I would like to look a lot more closely at that and to draw the issue to the attention of the council.

Constitutional work includes work on a range of issues, including intergovernmental relations, the British-Irish Council, legislative consent, elections and constitutional reform. Details of the funding allocated to each ministerial portfolio in both financial years were published in the respective budgets.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I wrote to the UK Government in August and December last year to express our concerns and disappointment about the Commonwealth games not being broadcast on free-to-air television. I urge the UK Government to use the powers at its disposal to ensure that Glasgow’s Commonwealth games are broadcast on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by everyone.

Broadcast rights for the Tour de France are a matter for the event owner, ASO. We are committed to working collaboratively with all partners to develop opportunities to maximise the exposure and reach of the grand départ to ensure that it can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

VisitScotland has made significant progress on measures to improve efficiency and better tailor and target the support that it provides. A key focus of VisitScotland remains how it can continue to evolve to best meet the ever-changing demands of the visitor and events economy, while ensuring that public funds are used to maximum effect. The Minister for Business and Employment engages regularly with VisitScotland, and I will ensure that Ms Tweed’s views are conveyed to its chief executive when they meet again next month.

I recognise the important role that libraries and community centres play in providing access to information technology, improving attainment, supporting children in the early years, helping and engaging older people, empowering our communities and much more besides. The Scottish Government supports public libraries via the Scottish Library and Information Council. In 2026-27, SLIC will receive an additional £100,000, taking its funding to £1.035 million. That includes funding for the public library improvement fund, which enables libraries to undertake a wide range of pioneering projects in communities.

I have not had such discussions, but Mr Choudhury’s question raises concerns that I would share with him. If he can forward any information about specific incidents that I am not aware of, I will most certainly bring that up in conversation with, among others, the culture conveners of local authorities. We are trying to work closely on cultural provision, and that seems exactly the kind of issue on which we need to have an active dialogue.

All books that are published in this country are available in the National Library of Scotland, and Mark Griffin makes an important point about keeping and preserving local history, particularly regarding tragedies and the loss of life.

There is also a wider question about the promotion of important works, as Mark Griffin has described. I would be happy to discuss the matter further with him to explore whether there is anything else that can be done in relation to that question.

I am glad that the Greens have finally raised Ukraine and Russia in the debate. I will come on to the United States in a moment.

Next week, as I mentioned, it will be four years since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia predicted victory within days. Now, almost four years later, Ukraine continues its heroic fight for its survival, and Scotland has welcomed many displaced families who have sought refuge here. As a Parliament, time and again, we have stood with the people of Ukraine in defiance of aggression. I ask the Parliament to once again affirm its support for Ukraine and for international law and to condemn the devastation that has been caused by Russia.

If we accept the principles of international law, we must support action where that law is flouted. Regimes that undermine the rule of law and illegally invade their neighbours should face consequences. It is therefore correct that Russia faces sanctions. This Government therefore supports the UK Government’s action against Russia’s shadow fleet—a fleet that prolongs the suffering by financing Russia’s aggression. I believe in international co-operation in partnership with our allies. That is founded on the belief that, if we want to maintain a rules-based international order, we must ourselves abide by those rules.

I will not take an intervention at this time. I have already taken one.

There is no doubt that the Maduro regime in Venezuela was illegitimate. However, as the First Minister has said, it is hard to see how international law has been respected. I also recognise that recent statements by the US Government about Greenland have risked destabilising the international order. Across history, smaller nations have been exposed to threats from more powerful nations. In that case, a strong and unified response saw European nations stand behind the principles of sovereignty and self-determination, and that unity has produced results.

The US is our ally. The bonds of friendship between the people of Scotland and the US run deep. I will be clear, however: the US Air Force does not have a base at Glasgow Prestwick airport, has not operated one since 1966 and does not have any personnel based at the airport. Glasgow Prestwick airport does not determine the policy, destination or mission of any aircraft using facilities there. Instead, it provides regulated aviation services in line with UK law, international aviation standards and long-standing agreements between allied nations.

Sometimes, friends and allies act in ways with which we disagree, and we disagreed fundamentally with the US in relation to Greenland—