Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

Scotland is a leading financial centre, second only to London in the UK. The industry sustains more than 145,000 jobs (80,000 in financial services and 65,000 in related professional services), and the sector is the biggest contributor to Scotland's economy, representing approx. £14bn or 9.6% of GVA to the UK Economy.

The Scottish Government does not hold fintech sector specific information on how many jobs have been created in each of the last 5 years. However as at December 2022 there were 211 fintech SME enterprises in Scotland compared to just 26 in 2018.

FinTech Scotland achieved the Silver level of Cluster Excellence accreditation from the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis awarded due to the demonstrated growth and development of the cluster.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

In June 2022, as part of a Programme for Government commitment, the Scottish Government published the second iteration of the Honey Bee Health Strategy 2022-2032. This is a comprehensive bee health programme, focusing on both bee diseases as well as the wider issues affecting the Scottish beekeeping community. It aims to achieve a healthy and sustainable population of honey bees in Scotland. The Strategy is accompanied by an Implementation Plan, which details specific actions that are being taken to achieve the Strategy’s aims.

In addition, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) provides a bee health diagnostic service for analysis and confirmation of bee diseases from samples submitted by beekeepers and Scottish Government bee inspectors. The Scottish Government also provides funding for an Apiculture specialist at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) who provides a support service for beekeepers focussed on disease prevention, good biosecurity and the treatment for Varroa mites.

Other actions include working in partnership with NatureScot to understand the interactions between honey bees, their environment, and other pollinators as well as supporting NatureScot’s ‘Pollinator Strategy for Scotland 2017-2027’.

The Honey Bee Health Strategy 2022-2032 can be found here: Bee Health Improvement Partnership (BHIP) Member Statements - The Honey Bee Health Strategy 2022 - 2032 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Implementation Plan which accompanies the Strategy can be found here: Scotland’s Honey Bee Health Strategy: implementation plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on 14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on14 March 2023. 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15654 on14 March 2023. 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