Many items within the Baby Box such as thermometers, play mat, changing mat, books, and the box itself are all suitable for a premature baby, and the clothing will be suitable as the baby grows. The Scottish Government seeks to deliver best value by purchasing the contents of the Baby Box in bulk, in line with Scottish birth rates. Costs would increase significantly if we moved to purchase smaller amounts of different items. Therefore in the current financial climate we do not plan to make any adaptions to the Baby Box. The Scottish Government is keen to offer financial support to parents or primary carers of babies who are born prematurely and have to receive inpatient care. All parents whose children have to stay overnight in hospital are eligible for financial support through the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF).

The information you have requested is set out in the following table. It should be noted that the key criteria for the Local Bridge Maintenance Fund was to rebuild and maintain key lifeline bridges, where diversionary routes are not available or limited.

Scottish Government Internal Audit have initiated an independent review which will focus on the following areas:

1) Review of policy and compliance

2) Analysis of transactions to identify areas of non-compliance e.g. personal use, unauthorised expenditure.

Resource of 2 members of staff and budget for 15 days have been allocated for the review. This will be funded through standard arrangements for providing an internal audit service. A draft report on the review is anticipated to be provided to the Permanent Secretary and Director of Procurement and Property by 1 September, with interim findings on focused transactions review expected before then.

In March 2023, the Scottish Government requested Public Health Scotland (PHS) to undertake an independent review of the Paediatric Scottish National Spinal Service (SNSS) which is hosted in NHS Lothian.

The review was requested to identify any variance between the number of cancellations reported by PHS and those held locally by SNSS. PHS confirmed cancellation data held by SNSS is aligned to PHS reported data.

PHS also assessed the application of National Waiting Times Guidance for children that were referred to SNSS, particularly focusing on children that required further diagnostic tests before a decision to treat was made. PHS found NHS Lothian to be adhering to and applying the waiting time guidance correctly.

Therefore, PHS concluded through this external assurance process that SNSS, hosted in NHS Lothian, in all of the areas reviewed adheres to and applies National Waiting Times Guidance with no apparent variation in the local data to that published by PHS.

A copy of the report can be found at Publications - Public Health Scotland .

We have today published a consultation on our Biodiversity Framework. The Framework will accelerate the pace and scale of our efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity, creating a nature positive Scotland and supporting people and communities to take the opportunities presented by restoring and protecting our natural environment. It includes an updated version of our Biodiversity Strategy, which takes into account the outcomes of CoP15 and the new Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as the first underpinning Delivery Plan, where we set out a range of ambitious and wide reaching actions to tackle the nature crisis. The Consultation also includes draft frameworks which set out the Vision and Principles that will underpin delivery of our commitment to protect 30% of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030, and to create nature networks across Scotland. Elements of the proposed Natural Environment Bill are also being consulted upon, including our proposal to create statutory nature restoration targets, and enhancements to National Parks legislation to reflect the important role our Parks already play in tackling the biodiversity and climate crisis. The consultation and associated documents are available at https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835212769 .

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that there is a thriving music industry in Scotland, including grassroots music venues, which are key to supporting emerging Scottish talent. It is vital that both grassroots venues and large-scale venues continue to be valued and supported.

That is why, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we worked with partners to deliver the Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund. Music venues were also able to apply to the Cancellation Fund for Cultural Organisations, which supported creative businesses which had been financially impacted by cancellations or postponement of activities due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

We currently have no plans to introduce a ticket levy on large music venues to support grassroots venues. However, we continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the sector, such as the Music Venue Trust, to discuss challenges facing the industry, and explore what can be done within our powers and resources to help overcome these.

We are currently developing detailed proposals for the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS). A formal remit will be drawn up (and published) in due course.

The work of the Observatory will align closely with our obligations under the Equality Act (2010) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and will inform and support implementation of the Convention in Scotland.

Music tourism makes an important contribution to the Scottish economy, attracting overseas visitors as well as locals to enjoy live music at festivals and venues across Scotland, many of which have an international reputation for excellence.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that there is a thriving music industry in Scotland and so provided £750,000 across 2021-22 and 2022-23 to enable Scotland on Tour to take place. The programme facilitated new concerts in venues across Scotland to support the sector recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. While there are no plans to reopen the fund, we continue to work with the music sector, including through further and higher education, to ensure that live music continues to be resilient and world-class.

EventScotland’s existing funding programmes offer opportunities for all event organisers, including live music events, to apply for funding on the basis that it meets the programme criteria.

Within Scotland’s UNESCO Trail microsite, Glasgow’s status as a UNESCO City of Music is highlighted. Earlier this year, EventScotland welcomed five journalists representing eight titles from the UK, France and Germany to explore and promote the Trail. They experienced Celtic Connections and a city music walking tour.

We will continue to work with a range of stakeholder groups, such as the Music Education Partnership Group and the Scottish Music Industry Association, to promote excellence in music and provide opportunities for the musicians of the future.

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a long-term strategic approach to skills and careers in the sector across the creative sector.

The music talent pipeline is already supported through a very significant offer across Scotland’s Colleges at NC, HNC and HND level covering performance, production, sound engineering, music business and event management. There is also increased specialisation at degree level across Scotland’s Higher Education sector, covering classical, contemporary and traditional music disciplines. Further information should be available from Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

In addition, Creative Scotland plays a major role in talent development and supporting the creative talent pipeline through the National Lottery funded Open Fund for Individuals which offers early career funding to emerging artists. Through their Targeted Routes and organisations funds, Creative Scotland support organisations and events such as Wide Days, the SAMAs and Showcase Scotland Expo, which provide mentoring for young acts.

The Scottish Government fully values the important contributions that both grassroots and large-scale music venues provide to Scotland. We recognise the role venues play in skills development and the talent pipeline.

It remains crucial that we continue to engage with live music venues of all sizes, and experts from all areas of the music industry, to hear directly the views and experiences from the sector first hand.

I will be meeting with the Music Venture Trust later this month to better understand how we can further support the music sector and grassroots venues.