Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-24265 on 15 January 2024. 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 .

The Scottish Government recognises the emerging seaweed industry is growing in scale and can provide a host of benefits to local communities, the environment, and contribute to the sustainable development of a Blue Economy through production of innovative and low-carbon products.

We commissioned research on ' Understanding the potential scale for seaweed-based industries in Scotland ', which was published in February 2022. This report explores the key areas of growth potential for the seaweed sector and the wider economic and social impacts of possible growth scenarios. As a result of this report, and to ensure that the seaweed sector in Scotland develops sustainably, the Scottish Government is funding, in partnership with Crown Estate Scotland, a 3-year business development manager position at the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association to support the growth ambitions of the Scottish seaweed sector.

The Scottish Government is increasing funding to the culture sector by £15.8m next financial year to £196.6m. This is the first step on the route to investing at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29. In 2025-2026 we aim to provide an additional £25m to the culture sector. This commitment to additional funding despite the challenging budget situation signals our confidence in the Scottish culture sector.

Through this increased investment we want to drive up opportunities for participation in creative pursuits, support the production of new works, and ensure that Scotland’s cultural output has platforms at home and abroad.

We will continue to work with the culture sector to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery. The Scottish Government will also continue to do everything within our powers and resources to help those most affected by current economic challenges.

Creative Scotland received applications from 361 cultural organisations with a total ask of £96m per year for their Multi Year Funding programme, which will commence from 2025-26.

The Scottish Government expect the £96m indicative request figure for the Multi Year Funding Programme to reduce once Creative Scotland has assessed applications and completed necessary due diligence.

The outcome from Stage One of the Multi Year Funding process will be announced at the end of February 2024.

We are increasing funding to the culture sector by £15.8m next financial year to £196.6m. This is the first step on the route to investing at least £100m more annually in culture and the arts by the financial year 2028-29. In 2025-2026 we aim to provide an additional £25m to the culture sector.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) is the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) for Scotland. Its remit is to promote human rights and, in particular, to encourage best practice in relation to human rights.

The SHRC is statutorily independent and the exercise of its functions is not subject to the direction or control of the Scottish Government. Information about its current programme of work can be sought direct from the SHRC.

The Scottish Government welcomes the SHRC’s investigation and looks forward to the publication of its report.

The UK Government did not inflation-proof their Capital Budget which has resulted in a 9.8% real terms fall in our UK capital funding over the medium term between 2023-24 and 2027-28. Scottish Government will invest more than half a billion pounds in affordable housing across Scotland next year, and we will be continuing our funding support for the demand-led Rural and Islands Housing Fund. We will work with partners to continue to deliver more affordable homes across Scotland, the majority of which will be for social rent, including supporting acquisitions of existing properties and the demand led Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund.

Much has already been delivered under the Hydro Nation Strategy, as set out in the annual reports.

https://www.gov.scot/policies/water/hydro-nation/

Going forward the programme will continue to benefit from Scottish Government spend, with a proposed £2.8 million allocated to 2024-25, and will deliver through the additional input of partners such as The James Hutton Institute and Scottish Water, who benefit from Scottish Government funding, and the Hydro Nation Chair.

Creative Scotland advertised 22 jobs in 2023. 20 roles were appointed, 1 closed without an offer and 1 closed with interviews taking place in January 2024. 18 were filled in Edinburgh, 2 in Glasgow and 0 outwith Edinburgh/Glasgow.

Whilst all roles have a contractual base location of either Edinburgh or Glasgow, since 2020 all roles at Creative Scotland have the ability of hybrid and remote working. Through this, Creative Scotland have benefitted from opening their talent pool to many regions across Scotland including the Highland and Islands, Perthshire and Ayrshire.

Complaints made to Creative Scotland are handled in line with their published Complaints Handling Procedure , which is available to download on Creative Scotland’s website. In 2023, six formal complaints were made and all have been successfully resolved in line with their published procedure.

VisitScotland has provided the following data.