Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-26878 on‎ 29 April 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 Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) sets out the Scottish Government’s strategy for delivering fiscal sustainability, the economic and fiscal outlooks for the next five years and key fiscal risks over the medium term. The 2024 Medium-Term Financial Strategy will be published soon.

We recognise the important role that programmes like MCR Pathways can play in supporting young people towards positive outcomes. Coordinators, who are often employed directly by local authorities, play an important role within the MCR Pathways programme, including building relationships with young people and supporting mentors.

Since 2021-22 the Scottish Government has provided approximately £5.5M to MCR Pathways to allow it to expand its programme.

The Scottish Government recognise the important role programmes like MCR Pathways can play in supporting young people.

Mentors, who are volunteers from local communities, can support young people, including care-experienced young people, towards better outcomes.

The administration of Circularity Scotland Ltd is a matter for its administrators, Interpath Advisory. Information on the administration of Circularity Scotland Ltd is available on Interpath Advisory’s website.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. Requests for access to medical records is a function conferred in law to the data controllers. NHS Scotland is made up of a federated group of independent organisations including health boards, GP Practices, Dentists, Opticians and other health services providers, each of whom may be individual data controllers depending on the specific information.

The views of stakeholders in Scotland – scientists, farmers, food producers and manufacturers, but especially, consumers and the public as a whole – will inform any future changes in relation to new genetic technologies such as gene editing. We are aware of the European Commission’s consideration of new genomic techniques (NGTs), and are looking carefully at the implications of their legislative proposals.

The Scottish Government and its partners have regular engagement with the UK Government to ensure a strategic approach and alignment of activity around Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

We welcome the recommendations from the Harrington Review to increase investment and expansion of the Office for Investment (OFI) and to improve collaboration and understanding of investment strengths between the UK Government and Devolved Administrations through the appointment of regional specialists. We have been engaging with the UK Government on the Review and Scottish Development International now has a dedicated resource in place at the OFI to support collaboration around attracting further investment opportunities to Scotland.

Scotland has a strong record in attracting FDI and our Inward Investment Plan is key to supporting Scotland’s growth clusters. EY’s independent Annual Attractiveness Survey 2023 shows that Scotland has been the most attractive investment location outside of London for the last eight years.

We are aware of the European Parliament’s adopted negotiating position with regard to the consideration of new genomic techniques following proposals by the European Commission in July 2023. We are looking carefully at the implications of these legislative proposals on Scotland, should they become EU law.

The number of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner is 95, of which 39 (41%) are former police officers.