Chamber and committees

Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government recognises certain groups of patients for whom the use of dental amalgam has been specifically contra-indicated in the European Union’s 2018 Minimata Convention on Mercury. As a result, resin composite fillings are available for the restoration of molar teeth in patients under 15 years of age, pregnant or breast-feeding women and those who have specific medical conditions that contraindicate the use of dental amalgam.

For all other patient groups, where there are no contra-indications, dental amalgam remains the first line treatment material for fillings in molar teeth. As the primary focus of NHS General Dental Services in Scotland is to provide care to maintain the oral health of patients, it is essential that the service is able to provide an evidence-based package of care which meets clinical requirements while also providing value for money, and the continued use of dental amalgam remains an essential element to meeting these goals.

The UK Government is responsible for national security and energy-related critical national infrastructure.Like the UK Government, we consider that China’s global impact means it is important to maintain pragmatic economic relationships with the potential to create jobs and growth. The Scottish and UK governments, relevant agencies and delivery partners work closely with experts and investing businesses on these issues.

We welcome the involvement of international companies in supporting the domestic offshore wind sector and supply chain. When attracting inward investment strict due diligence is applied on a case-by-case basis by the lead enterprise agency and supported by guidance from Scottish Government. Due diligence will factor in a range of political, economic and social issues, including sanctions, human rights and national security.

The civil service that supports Scottish Ministers is structured into eight Director-General areas, each containing a number of directorates and related public bodes which are responsible for proposing legislation and putting Scottish Government policy into practice.

Directors General are referred to within our governance processes as the accountable officers (AOs). They are accountable to Parliament for the duties given to them by the Permanent Secretary as the Principal Accountable Officer, and participate across the corporate governance system.

Each Director General and their accountabilities align to Cabinet Secretary and Ministerial portfolios to enable oversight and leadership for their respective Ministerial responsibilities.

These Directors General and their Directorates are all part of the Scottish Government organisation, referred to as core Scottish Government, that operates as a single employer. This structuring allows for the more flexible deployment of resources across portfolios to respond quickly and efficiently to Ministerial priorities and external events. It also supports the wider approach set out within the National Performance Framework, to focus the organisation on working and leading collectively to improve the National Outcomes for the people of Scotland.

Further details of the government structures can be found on the Scottish Government website Government structure - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

The Scottish Government has no plans to change its visual identity from the current saltire.

The UK Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme provides a partial guarantee to a lender making a loan to a ship-buyer or operator, so that new vessels, or refits, retrofits or repairs of existing vessels can be procured from UK shipyards. This type of finance guarantee is not required where the Scottish Government or its agencies are the buyer/funder. As the Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, is the funder of CMAL vessels projects, the scheme does not benefit these kinds of contracts. The scheme may be applicable to commercial clients or funders looking to build or refit vessels at the Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow yard.

The Scottish Growth Scheme (SGS) supports the growth and export plans of SMEs. It has been delivered through a series of financial instruments the latest of which are the 5 debt and equity funds delivered by publicly procured fund managers who invest in Scotland’s most ambitious SMEs.

The current 5 SGS funds have £97 million in funds under management, 77% of which had been invested by December 2023 providing £75 million alongside £205 million from private sector investors so that 621 businesses received £280 million to finance their growth and exporting ambitions, creating 1,585 jobs to date. It is expected that the remaining £22 million to be invested by SGS fund managers will yield similar results.

We have confirmed that at present, there is no available budget to recapitalise Business Loans Scotland and UMi Debt Finance Scotland, 2 of the debt fund managers operating under the SGS.DSL Business Finance concluded microfinance lending in August 2021 as British Business Bank expanded the eligibility criteria for their microfinance scheme. Foresight is managing a portfolio of SGS investments and has successfully raised a new equity fund from private sector investors. There are ongoing discussions regarding the recapitalisation of Techstart who invest in young, innovative start-ups.

There has been no ministerial engagement with BAE Systems regarding any potential reacquisition of Spirit Aerosystems at Prestwick.

The Scottish Government has been made aware of the ongoing commercial reacquisition of Spirit Aerosystems by The Boeing Company and remains open to engagement with all parties as the commercial process develops.

The Scottish Government has been made aware of the ongoing commercial acquisition of Spirit Aerosystems by The Boeing Company, including the agreement Airbus has entered into in relation to a potential acquisition of some activities currently performed for Airbus.

Maximising incomes and ensuring everyone can access social security entitlements are fundamental priorities for the Scottish Government. In 2024-25 we plan to invest over £12 million in income maximisation and welfare advice services – including nearly £4.6 million for Citizens Advice Scotland’s Money Talk Team service, which last year helped over 9,000 older people secure financial gains of over £7 million.

Improving uptake to Pension Credit is important to this, given the DWP estimates from October 2023 that an estimated £1.7bn is unclaimed, made even more critical now, given the UK Government’s announcement to end universal Winter Fuel Payments and to restrict those in receipt of Pension Credit and means-tested benefits only.

Staff rotas and timetabling planning are operational matters for ScotRail. After coming into public ownership ScotRail was required to increase the number of Train Drivers to a level which would facilitate a reduction to reliance on staff working rest days and overtime.

The Scottish Government has funded the subsidy required to cover the net cost of ScotRail’s operations, including staffing.

ScotRail informs that its planning to recruit 160 train drivers each year from 2024-25 going forward.