Marine Directorate Compliance Operations use a risk-based procedure which considers intelligence, likelihood, and impact on environment and fishery resources to ensure the conditions of the wrasse derogation are adhered to. For example, wrasse fishers are required to submit weekly data returns, in addition to their FISH1 forms, which can highlight if a fisher may be using more than 250 traps a day.

Marine Directorate have recently consulted on proposals to require a tracking device on all under 12 metre fishing vessels in Scotland. The consultation responses are currently being analysed and will be published in due course and depending on the outcome of the consultation, if implemented, this could provide additional compliance monitoring of the fishery.

This is a matter for Local Authorities. The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government published updated National Child Protection Guidance in 2023 which includes practitioner guidance on fabricated or induced illness.

All Scottish local authorities have a statutory duty under the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”) to appoint at least one officer for the purposes of the 2010 Act.

Local authority appointed 'authorised officers' (i.e. dog wardens) are expected to be skilled in the control of dogs, and also have the capacity to instruct and advise others in dog control matters.

The number of such staff employed in each council area is entirely a matter for each council to consider.

Scottish Government officials engage regularly with local authorities on matters in relation to dog control, via both COSLA and also the National Dog Warden Association (NDWA).

My statement to Parliament on 18 January 2024 committed the Scottish Government to working with key stakeholders to look at any improvements that could be made to the 2010 Act to strengthen and enhance the approach to preventative measures in the medium term.

The Scottish Government, in its Scottish Connections Framework, committed to continue to engage with key heritage events around the world such as New York Tartan Week.

We work with key partners, led by VisitScotland, as part of the Brand Scotland strategic partnership, and through our international offices to position Scotland as an inclusive, year-round destination.

Key milestones in the cultural calendar, with St Andrew’s Day in November and Burns Night in January, along with Tartan Day in April in North America, provide the Scottish Government international network with invaluable opportunities to promote Scotland’s international interests, showcasing Scottish traditions, the best of Scottish produce, culture and values, and Scotland as a great destination for tourism. Teams in the Scottish Government international network also engage with local diaspora communities in country specific activities such as Highland Games and historical celebrations.

Those activities include, but are not limited to the following examples and evolve depending on local opportunities.

The Scottish Government in the USA has long been a key supporter of the diaspora led activity that constitutes Tartan Day and Tartan Week. Ministerial attendance throughout the week is leveraged towards promoting trade, investment, tourism, culture and higher education. VisitScotland attend Tartan Week and hold events to promote tourism with the general public, and specific events working with tourism and hospitality companies. With the support of the Scottish Government, Tartan Week has grown to be bigger than ever, with multiple Scottish business, culture and heritage organisations present last year, and planning to attend again this year. The team also host and participate in events around local Highland Games throughout the year, as well as St Andrew’s Day and Burns Nights across the USA, host events for alumni of Scottish Universities, and partner with diaspora organisations to deliver the strongest possible suite of events across the country, all aimed at promoting Scotland as a place to live, work, study, visit and do business.

The Scottish Government in Canada works in partnership with major Scottish/St. Andrew’s societies across Canada to promote Scottish tourism and place VisitScotland marketing collateral at their events including Burns Suppers, St. Andrew’s Day as well as at Highland Games in the summer. Video content on their Instagram channel is mainly drawn from VisitScotland and Scotland is Now campaigns. The team has also supported VisitScotland and their work with Canadian airports that host direct flights to Scotland.

The Scottish Government in China works in partnership with stakeholders including Scottish and Alumni Societies to promote Scotland and tourism, building connections with diaspora who help to propagate our messaging. Recent examples include Burns Nights, either hosted or supported by the team, hosting a St Andrew’s Day reception, and supporting the National Gallery of Scotland’s opening of a major exhibition of surrealist art from its collection at Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai.

The team in China works closely with VisitScotland to maximise the opportunities that events and activities offer to promote tourism and Scotland more generally; and in building links with key stakeholders to support tourism. One example is the direct flight route between China and Scotland (Hainan Airlines announced in late December it would run its direct Edinburgh-Beijing route in 2024 with extra flights compared to the first run in 2023). The team uses its social media platforms to maximise impact and reach a wider audience across China, currently with 275k followers.

The Scottish Government in France works closely with Scottish diaspora organisations across France, regularly attending and participating in their events. This year they attended and supported several Burns Suppers organised by diaspora organisations, in Paris and beyond, such as Aubigny-sur-Nère: a town with a rich historical connection with Scotland.

The Scottish Government in Germany promote tourism to Scotland and showcase VisitScotland content through a number of channels, including regular online newsletters, social media posts, and events such as concerts and literature showcases, as well as Burns Night and St Andrews Day events. They regularly work with VisitScotland and Showcase Scotland to promote festival and cultural tourism especially. A 2023 St Andrew’s Day reception, in partnership with VisitScotland focused on promoting cultural and music tourism to Scotland.

The Scottish Government in Ireland are speaking to St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin regarding their ‘Abair - Bothy/Bothn’ which will bring together artists from Scotland and Ireland to explore shared traditions and folk customs

The hosting of annual Burns Night and St Andrews Day events, in which the promotion of Scottish arts, culture, food and landscapes to a Nordic audience are a key objective for the Nordics team in Copenhagen, alongside engagement with Scotland’s locally based diaspora communities.

Scotland House London are organising a week-long Scottish literature festival with Scottish diaspora organisations, with whom they have a group but also a range of events, such as a Ceilidh and annual gala with Princess Anne as the royal patron, throughout the year.

As we learn more about our diaspora and increase our Scottish Connections we will continue to explore new opportunities for engagement.

The Care Inspectorate publishes annual statistics on the number of childminders operating in Scotland. The following table summarises published Care Inspectorate data from the last 10 years. The figure for 2023 is expected to be published in the autumn of 2024.

The Strategic Investment Model (SIM), an initiative devised to respond to the recommendations within the Strategic Investment Assessment, is a novel industry-led approach which is delivering for the offshore wind sector in Scotland.

The SIM is helping the Government, our agencies and the sector to identify key, shared priorities with an initial focus on investment in ports and harbours infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and fabrication. There is a strong pipeline of port infrastructure and supply chain projects now emerging through the SIM process.

On February 20 the SIM published Strategic I nvestment Model Stage 2 projects announced | HIE (offshorewindscotland.org.uk) of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the process and have a completed project prospectus. 6 SIM projects have requested confidentiality.

An initial first three projects have been selected by the SIM to move into Stage 2 involving facilitated meetings between offshore wind developers and project proponents.

Currently, the 38 SIM projects have a combined total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of around £6.5BN.

Some project information is still commercially confidential. Therefore, the release of any further information will be undertaken by the SIM group. For more information, please contact Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment, at [email protected].

The Strategic Investment Model (SIM), an initiative devised to respond to the recommendations within the Strategic Investment Assessment, is a novel industry-led approach which is delivering for the offshore wind sector in Scotland.

The SIM is helping the Government, our agencies and the sector to identify key, shared priorities with an initial focus on investment in ports and harbours infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and fabrication. There is a strong pipeline of port infrastructure and supply chain projects now emerging through the SIM process.

On February 20 the SIM published details of 32 of the 38 projects that have successfully completed stage one of the process and have a completed project prospectus. 6 SIM projects have requested confidentiality. Strategic Investment Model Stage 2 projects announced | HIE (offshorewindscotland.org.uk)

An initial first three projects have been selected by the SIM to move into Stage 2 involving facilitated meetings between offshore wind developers and project proponents.

Currently, the 38 SIM projects have a combined total Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) of around £6.5BN.

Some project information is still commercially confidential. Therefore, the release of any further information will be undertaken by the SIM group. For more information, please contact Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment, at [email protected].

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) recognise the impact of illicit drugs in prisons and the importance of supporting prisoners on their recovery journey.

We are committed to ensuring that the prison population have access to healthcare that is, as a minimum, equal to that offered in the community. A recent example is the development of a prisoner Healthcare Target Operating Model to provide a framework for nationally consistent healthcare delivery including the future state of addictions services. The National Prison Care Network are visiting NHS Boards to support the implementation of this model.

There are already a range of innovative projects in prisons including recovery cafes, recovery walks, mutual aid groups and other positive diversionary activities. Partnership working is crucial and the SPS works with several third sector organisations to deliver consistent recovery pathways to help individuals reintegrate back into communities. The multi-disciplinary Recovery Network also provides the SPS with an opportunity to share and replicate best practice in the community.

Medication Assisted Treatment standards are a key component of our National Drugs Mission and the SPS have committed to embed these standards across the prison estate. It is working with NHS Partners to ensure healthcare choice aligns with community-based treatment services wherever possible. In addition, the Prison to Rehab Protocol supports individuals to access abstinence-based treatment on release and sets out the process for prison staff, service providers and individuals on accessing the pathway.

All this work directly links to the Scottish Government’s National Mission. However, enforcement is also important, and a variety of operational and technological responses are deployed to prevent substances entering the prison estate. These include body scanners and Rapiscan machines, which detect substances that may be concealed in items of mail and personal property.

As I said in my answer to question S6W-23651 on 7 December 2023, the Scottish Government is aiming to publish a consultation on a substantial range of family and succession law matters, including the minimum age of marriage, by summer 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25506 on 28 February 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