Chamber and committees

Scottish Government policy is that legislation should apply to the Crown in the same way as any other person unless there is a legitimate reason for a different approach. It is the Scottish Government’s intention that we will make clear in a Bill’s accompanying documents how provisions in a Bill apply to the Crown and why Crown consent is required.

While funding for the national collections is a direct responsibility of the Scottish Government, other museums and galleries are core funded from a variety of sources including local government. The Scottish Government is in discussion with Museums Galleries Scotland to understand the current challenges facing smaller organisations. Museums Galleries Scotland provides development and project funding to the sector on behalf of the Scottish Government. In view of cost increases museums across Scotland are facing, Museums Galleries Scotland has decided to pause its planned grants programme in order to review whether it is the most effective way to meet the needs of the sector at this challenging time. They are working on this as a matter of urgency and will announce any revisions to their programme to the sector as soon as possible.

As I noted in my answer to S6W-10242, we are considering publication of average apartment rental charges and grant calculations as part of the current review of the Home Owners Support Fund, which is expected to conclude by Spring 2023. If the decision is taken to publish the figures, this will include historical calculations.

At present, and in line with previous UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommendations, there is no lung screening programme in Scotland to expand. I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10989 on 3 October 2022, regarding the UK NSC’s recent recommendation to move towards the implementation of a targeted screening programme for lung cancer in adults aged 55–74 with a history of smoking.

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-11067 on 3 October 2022. 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-09651 on 19 July 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The Scottish Government seeks legal advice on an ongoing basis as appropriate and I can confirm that legal advice has been sought on this matter.

The First Minister has written once to the new Prime Minister. The letter, dated 6 September 2022 and focusing on the cost crisis, was published on the Scottish Government website and a link is provided below.

Cost crisis: letter to new Prime Minister - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

People living in Scotland in receipt of Personal Independence Payment do not need to make an application for Adult Disability Payment. Social Security Scotland will transfer their awards for them, and in such circumstances before the person would otherwise be asked to undergo a DWP style assessment. We will write to people to tell them when the process has started to safely and securely transfer their award to Social Security Scotland. The transfer will happen automatically, ensuring there are no gaps in entitlement and ensuring that people continue to receive the right amount and their payments on time.

Should a person in Scotland in receipt of Personal Independence Payment make a new claim for Adult Disability Payment, on receipt of Part 1 of the application Social Security Scotland will make a determination that they are not entitled to Adult Disability Payment. This is to ensure that there are no duplication of awards and no gaps in payment. Their Personal Independence Payment award will continue to be paid by the DWP until it is selected for transfer to Social Security Scotland.

The commitment to the 2021-22 Programme for Government ambition to double the amount of land used for organic farming by 2026 is still firmly in place, alongside our commitment to establish a new Organic Food and Farming Action Plan by the end of this parliamentary session. We will extend the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme up to the end of the period of stability in 2024, which will continue to underpin the ambition for organic farming.