Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government supports a progressive approach to industrial relations and to trade unionism and regards unions as important for building constructive employer/worker relationships and for promoting a movement for fair work, both in the workplace and in wider society. Effective voice needs effective structures through which dialogue can take place and so we believe that derecognition should be avoided.

At present there is no recognised Scottish Government post or position of “Fair Work Ambassador”. As such the Chief Executive of Cornerstone, nor any other individual has been or is recognised as such.

We have taken action to ensure that the term “Scottish Government” is not appropriate to be applied in any context of an organisation or individual being described as a “Fair Work Ambassador".

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government does not hold any information on this organisation in respect of its charitable status or activities .

Charity regulation and associated statutory action is for the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), which operates independently of the Scottish Government. I understand OSCR has opened an inquiry into the Institute for Statecraft.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02462 on 24 October 2018 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11724&i=106125

Pulmonary rehabilitation is widely recognised by health care professionals as an important element of respiratory disease care. It has a well-established evidence base for its benefits in helping to support self-management and reduce exacerbation and hospital admissions.

This is why it is already a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines, that NHS Boards are expected to follow.

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation will form an important part of the Scottish Respiratory Care Action Plan that we are developing with the aim to raise awareness and drive improvement in outcomes for people with long-term respiratory conditions.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and British Lung Foundation are involved in the development of the Plan from the early stages. We value their expert advice on the best approach to raising patients awareness of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high quality, safe and effective person centre care. It is for clinicians, in consultation with the patient, to discuss and agree the best treatment options based on clinical guidance and individual circumstances and needs.

While individual councils, including City of Edinburgh, raise a range of issues from time to time over their funding levels, the Scottish Government has always been clear that the negotiations on the level of the local government finance settlement are conducted between Scottish Ministers and COSLA. The outcome of these negotiations for 2019-20 will be announced on 12 December as part of the overall 2019-20 Scottish Budget.

Both the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and I meet with COSLA and individual local authorities, including the City of Edinburgh Council, on a regular basis and discuss a range of issues including future funding. Indeed I met representatives of the Council on 22 November. The outcome of these discussions will be announced as part of the 2019-20 Scottish Budget on 12 December.