Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government will provide an update on this scoping work, as outlined in its response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations, via the Culture Strategy Action Plan refresh (CSAPR).

The CSAPR will outline our ambitions around culture and creativity in learning, including our plans around collaborating with Creative Scotland on the scoping of a youth arts strategy, following Time To Shine , Scotland’s first national youth arts strategy, which covers the period up to 2023.

In April 2022 increased planning fees came into effect providing much needed additional resource to Planning Authorities. Whilst the use of this additional resource is a matter for individual authorities, some authorities have reported that the fee increase has allowed them to retain or recruit new members of staff.

We are committed to continuing to work with Heads of Planning Scotland, the Royal Town Planning Institute and other stakeholders on training and skills. The Future Planners Project, commissioned by the Scottish Government, was carried out between January – April 2022. The project focused on exploring the options available to support the growth of entrants into the planning profession in Scotland. We are currently working with the Royal Town Planning Institute and Heads of Planning Scotland to implement the recommendations of the report.

The Future Planners Project, commissioned by the Scottish Government, was carried out between January – April 2022. The project focused on exploring the options available to support the growth of entrants into the planning profession in Scotland.

A town planning apprenticeship scheme was highlighted as one of the key recommendations in the Future Planners Project. We are currently working with Royal Town Planning Institute and Heads of Planning Scotland with regards to the feasibility and implementation of the town planning apprenticeship scheme.

The Bank is guided by the missions set for it by Scottish Ministers and makes independent decisions in line with their Investment Strategy. The Scottish Government is not currently considering mandating the creation of any refund guarantee products by the Scottish National Investment Bank at this time.

The latest report highlights the continuing significance of Scotland’s contribution to the UK space industry, making up 18% of the total workforce.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting our burgeoning space sector identified as a priority in both our Inward Investment Plan and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

And it is that commitment that helped Mangata Networks choose to locate its state-of-the-art engineering and operations hub for satellite manufacturing and over 500 high skilled jobs in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not prescribed a specific employment model for Community Link Workers. Local areas decide, on the basis of local need, how they are deployed and in which GP practices they work.

As at March 2022, 76% of GP practices in Scotland had full or partial access to Community Link Workers. By March 2022, 249 WTE community links workers had been recruited through Primary Care Improvement Plans. Figures split by health board can be found at:

Supporting documents - Primary care improvement plans: summary of implementation progress - March 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Seamus Boland of the European Economic and Social Committee and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about Scottish civic society's involvement in the EU’s Domestic Advisory Group.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Our seas must remain a source of economic prosperity for the nation, especially in our remote, coastal and island communities. We are determined that those who may be affected by these proposals are involved from the outset.

The proposed criteria by which Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) site proposals will be developed are set out in our draft Site Selection Guidelines , which were published on 12 December 2022. These have been produced jointly by our statutory nature advisors, NatureScot and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

The approach we have taken to the process is to involve stakeholders from the outset, by consulting at the earliest possible stage before any site selection and implementation. We want the site selection process to be based on established principles, allowing for participation at every step and to be part of a just transition, with meaningful community engagement. The consultation on our overall approach to HPMAs, including the proposed criteria for determining where sites will be, closed on 17 April. We are currently analysing the responses we have received and will be carefully considering the feedback provided.

Danuta Hübner MEP and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about the Scottish Government's EU alignment and Energy policies.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Nathalie Loiseau MEP and I held a positive meeting in June last year, in which we spoke about the work of the Scottish Government's Brussels office and areas of potential future cooperation with Europe such as energy.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.