Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17602 on 12 May 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at the questions and answers page on the Scottish Parliament website .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17602 on 12 May 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at the questions and answers page on the Scottish Parliament website .

The Scottish Government provided funding to the STUC for research into collective bargaining coverage in Scotland. This research was published in a report for the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) by the Labour Research Group in July 2021. It included recommendations both for the Scottish Government and STUC on how more collective bargaining - and the "voice" at work it provides - can be encouraged.

We have provided £250,000 annually to the STUC for the last seven years through the Trade Union Fair Work and Modernisation Fund which has supported unions in embedding the Fair Work Framework in Scotland’s workplaces. This funding has enabled unions to work proactively, building upon ongoing efforts, to tackle precarious work, and organising for Fair Work in less unionised sectors. The Scottish Government engages regularly with STUC in relation to this Fund.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17602 on 12 May 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at the questions and answers page on the Scottish Parliament website .

The Scottish Government has consulted and sought views on Community Wealth Building (CWB) legislation, and as part of this, sought views on a duty and need for statutory or non-statutory guidance. Analysis of this consultation will take place over Summer 2023.

Further, a CWB Guide offering practical support for those seeking to pursue a CWB approach was published in January 2023. This guide was supported by the Scottish Government and produced by Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES).

In collaboration with local and regional partners, the Scottish Government supported the development of Community Wealth Building (CWB) action plans for each area that set out practical actions to maximise the economic benefit realised for local communities, businesses and people.

Clackmannanshire, Glasgow City Region and Tay City region plans have been published on the Scottish Hub for Regional Economic Development website. Western Isles’ plan can be found here . South of Scotland Enterprise published their report on the potential for a CWB approach to adding energy efficient measures to Registered Social Landlord (RSL) housing stock in the South of Scotland, which concluded that 2,200 jobs could be created by 2023. The analysis can be found here: A roadmap to decarbonisation ,

A summary of all learnings from the pilots informed the Economic Development Associations Scotland (EDAs) practical CWB guide, available here: Community Wealth Building Scotland | EDAS

Representatives of The Convention Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) participate in the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill Steering Group, which I chair. This Group has met three times.

In addition, I met with Cllr Gail McGregor, COSLA Environment and Economy Spokesperson on 08 February 2023 regarding CWB and other matters.

Scottish Government officials regularly engage with COSLA officers regarding the development of CWB legislation.

The proposal which Common Weal submitted on Development Councils as part of the first phase of the Democracy Matters engagement process made a valuable contribution to the debate about the future of local democracy in Scotland. Further involvement from Common Weal during the next phase of the conversation will add to the wide range of voices we need to hear from to ensure that we arrive at the best possible set of arrangements for all of Scotland’s communities. Democracy Matters engagement is part of the wider Local Governance Review which we remain committed to concluding within this parliament.

There are currently no plans to review or amend the law in this area. Responsibility for local authority museums rightly rests with each local authority. Local authorities must use resources as efficiently as possible and deliver services effectively to ensure taxpayers get the best possible value.

The Local Governance Review is being taken forward jointly with COSLA to examine how power and resources should be shared between national and local government and with communities. We remain committed to concluding the review and taking forward the findings within this parliament.