Chamber and committees

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has continually had to make tough decisions that have been aimed at minimising the transmission of the virus and helping to keep people safe and alive. The NHS Scotland Covid status app is an important tool in our response to Covid, and it has played a vital public health role during the latter stages of the pandemic.

We accept the outcome of the ICO’s investigation and that the app’s privacy information notice could have been clearer in telling users how their information would be used. However, I stress that people’s data was held securely at all times and that personal information was not compromised.

Together with NHS NSS, we are working with the ICO to implement the improvements on transparency for which it has asked and to ensure that any necessary lessons are learned for future work.

I congratulate Emma Harper on leading the members’ business debate. I agree with her about access to Beat’s services, for which she has very helpfully given the contact details.

Building on what I said in my initial answer about the action that the Government is taking, the implementation group was established to take forward the recommendations of the review. It met most recently last Friday, to discuss the progress that has been made so far and next steps. The implementation group is taking forward a comprehensive work plan, which is focused on training and skills, quality standards and data improvement. The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care will attend the group’s next meeting to discuss areas in which further improvements need to be made.

I encourage anyone who feels that they need support for disordered eating to seek help from friends and family, a medical professional or support services such as Beat. The extra funding for Beat that I mentioned in my earlier answer will allow it to deliver additional services, including the expansion of helpline support, specific binge-eating disorder support services and training for general practitioners and other healthcare professionals.

First, I, too, on behalf of all of us in the chamber and across the country, express my horror at the scenes that we have watched unfold in Ukraine as a result of Putin’s aggression and illegal invasion over the past week. I also express my admiration for and solidarity with the people of Ukraine; led by their President, they are showing incredible bravery as they stand up for the values of democracy, sovereignty and freedom.

I also echo the comments about the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, which will be launched just after First Minister’s question time. All party leaders will stand together to support that. The DEC appeal brings together all the aid agencies that are responding on the ground. Donating to its Ukraine appeal is the fastest and most efficient way to get money to the charities that are helping right now. I can confirm that, of the £4 million announced by the Scottish Government on Monday for humanitarian aid, £2 million will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

Before I move on to Douglas Ross’s question, I take the opportunity to tell people that they can donate to the appeal at dec.org.uk or by telephoning 0370 6060900, or £10 can be donated by texting DONATE to 70150. Every penny donated from Scotland will help to get much needed aid to the people of Ukraine who are fighting so hard for the values that we all hold dear.

On the question about the Scottish National Investment Bank, I am sure that everyone across the chamber will understand that I am not going to go into the confidential details of anybody’s employment situation in the chamber. That issue is not a matter for Scottish Government ministers; it is a matter for the board of the Scottish National Investment Bank. Ministers had no input into it, although we were told earlier in February that the chief executive would be leaving the bank imminently.

Scottish Government ministers have the responsibility to ensure that the Scottish National Investment Bank is performing well. It is performing exceptionally well, and it is perhaps the most important economic initiative that has been taken over the past few years in Scotland. As of the end of January, the bank had completed 13 investments, totalling just under £200 million, since its launch to support companies across its three key missions of net zero, place-based development and innovation. The bank is doing incredibly well, and the Scottish Government and all of Scotland should continue to support it in those efforts.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell from the Scottish Retail Consortium said:

“There is much in this strategy the retail industry can support”.

Andrew McRae of the Federation of Small Businesses said that

“the headline measures in this strategy could help Scotland realise its long-term ambitions.”

That is what people working in Scotland’s economy think. We will continue to work with them as we continue to support recovery from Covid, ensuring that the Scottish economy is living up to and fulfilling its enormous potential.

I would have thought that the answer to Douglas Ross’s question about the terms of the ministerial code should have been obvious. The chief executive is an employee of the Scottish National Investment Bank, and the bank has a duty of care to all staff, including the former chief executive. That is why that is a matter for the bank’s board, and it is important for everyone—including the Scottish ministers—to respect that confidentiality and duty of care.

It is important to make the point that, given that the chief executive has resigned, the bank has new interim leadership in place, and it continues to perform extremely well. I have already outlined the scale of the investments that are being made by the bank to support businesses throughout the country to help us to meet the missions of making Scotland a more innovative country, completing our journey to net zero and ensuring place-based development to help some parts of the country to have better and faster economic growth. That is what matters to the Parliament and the Government. At any given time, it is vital to be clear that the bank has the leadership in place to ensure that continued progress.

Yes, it is a coincidence, and that is clear. The former chief executive of the Scottish National Investment Bank is a private individual. She has opted to resign her post as chief executive of the bank. She is entitled to the duty of care and confidentiality to which any other individual in her circumstances would be entitled. As I think most reasonable people would accept, it would be completely wrong of me, in the chamber of the Scottish Parliament, to breach that confidentiality.

I have a duty to ensure that the bank has the right leadership in place and can continue to build on the excellent progress that it is making across its three missions. That, I think, is what is important.

Regarding the economic strategy published by Kate Forbes earlier this week, perhaps I need to quote some people on the front line of Scotland’s economy.

Tracy Black from the Confederation of British Industry Scotland said:

“Business will welcome the ambitions set out ... as the right path for Scotland’s future economy.”

Liz Cameron of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said that

“businesses will applaud the scale and ambition set out in the strategy”.

I thank Stephanie Callaghan for that question and take this opportunity to acknowledge how active she and her office have been on behalf of her constituents on this issue.

Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government will explore and give support to the exploration of all possible options that might allow the business to continue in some form and that might allow jobs to be saved and protected. As I said in my earlier answer, in parallel to that, we will provide as much support as possible to the workers who are affected and who might be facing redundancy. The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise would be happy to meet Stephanie Callaghan and other MSPs who cover the region to keep them updated on those efforts.

Yes, I will ensure that that review happens. I have sought urgent advice on the maximum possible action that the Scottish Government can take, within our powers, against individuals and entities that are identified as having close links with the Russian regime, whether or not they are currently on the United Kingdom sanctions list. Options that will be examined include, but are not limited to, ending support from the public purse and freezing or seizing assets in Scotland, where that is possible. Of course, I will keep Parliament fully updated.

I also confirm to Parliament that the Scottish Government will today write an open letter to Scottish businesses and business organisations. Of course, it is a matter for businesses but, beyond direct investments, which we hope that businesses will divest themselves of, we will encourage them to review operations for links and connections to Russia—however indirect—and to sever those links. The Scottish Government and our economic agencies will not support trade and investment activity with Russia. Of course, we will support businesses as they adapt to remove any and all links with Russia.

I absolutely agree with the sentiments of that question and, like others, I was very concerned to learn that Dawnfresh Holdings had entered administration. I would absolutely call for the fairest possible treatment of that company’s workers.

Scottish Enterprise spoke with the administrators yesterday to better understand the situation and to offer whatever support it can to help the business and the workers who are affected. We will work with the administrators to understand all potential options for the business and to explore all possibilities for rescuing jobs. The Government’s partnership action for continuing employment—PACE—will offer any necessary support to the members of the workforce who are affected and who might be facing redundancy.

I agree whole-heartedly that early intervention and prevention are central to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. In addition to the provision of school counsellors, to which Gillian Martin referred, we provided £15 million of funding to local authorities to deliver locally based mental health and wellbeing support for five to 24-year-olds in their communities.

We have also funded the aye feel and Mind Yer Time web resources, which provide information to young people on a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. We know that providing young people with good opportunities when they leave education or care has a significant impact on their health and wellbeing. We have built in that provision to the young persons guarantee, and we have provided up to £75 million to local employability partnerships, via local authorities, to provide employability support, which includes mental health support, to young people aged 16 to 24.