Chamber and committees

Insights gathered to date indicate that families find it difficult to navigate the childcare system. In response we have been considering what a digital service to simplify that process might look like.

I will update Parliament in November and the Investor Panel recommendations will be published on the Scottish Government website by the end of 2023.

Yes, on 8 November 2021 the Scottish Government published A Review of the Existing Literature and Evidence on Young People Experiencing Harms from Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland.

The review can be found here: A Review of the Existing Literature and Evidence on Young People Experiencing Harms from Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland (www.gov.scot)

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 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

The Salmon Interactions Working Group report recommended that one lead body takes responsibility for interactions between wild and farmed fish. In response to the Group’s report, the Scottish Government identified that SEPA would become the lead regulator responsible for managing sea lice and the interactions between wild and farmed fish.

SEPA consulted on its detailed proposals for the new sea lice risk assessment framework from 31 May to 15 September 2023, including a proposed timeline for implementation in phases from the end of 2023. The timeline for implementation will be informed by SEPA’s assessment of the consultation response.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21441 on 27 September 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-21029 on 15 September 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 .

Screen Scotland’s Economic Value of the Screen Sector in Scotland in 2021 report, published this August, shows the continued exceptional growth of Scotland’s screen industry, which contributed £627bn total GVA to the economy in 2021, and generated 10,940 FTEs of employment.

While Glasgow and Edinburgh account for the largest shares of economic impact, nearly £264m of that total GVA was generated elsewhere across Scotland, with nearly £175m GVA, and 2,980 total FTEs, in the fours areas named in the question.

The report clearly demonstrates the direct and indirect value of the screen sector to other key parts of Scotland’s economy, including hospitality and tourism, which is driven by titles like Outlander , set across Scotland’s uniquely beautiful landscapes.

To ensure the benefits of the sector’s success continue to be felt nationally, Screen Scotland are undertaking a range of strategic work, including: developing the network of Local Film Offices and liaisons across Scotland, who provide local, expert advice to incoming productions; through their Screen Commission, providing advice on locations and facilities across Scotland to domestic and international productions, to ensure that areas outside the central belt are considered and made accessible; supporting a range of skills and training programmes outside the Central Belt, including Stornoway, Aberdeenshire, and West Dunbartonshire, as well as through the Professional Development Fund, which is open to support travel and accommodation for anyone in Scotland to attend training to develop their career.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the continued growth of our screen sector nationally, including by incentivising productions to come to Scotland; encouraging the development of new studio space and infrastructure; increasing skills provision, and; pressing public service broadcasters to increase production from Scotland, so that the sector can continue to grow sustainably as part of the wider creative economy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-21029 on 13 September 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 .

Plans to pilot drug checking facilities are being developed in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow following a research project funded through the Drug Deaths Taskforce.

The research work, carried out by Stirling University, highlighted the need for a national hub for drug checking to be established alongside the facilities in the three pilot cities.

That national hub will: provide the ability to re-test samples from the city drug checking sites; confirm the identity of compounds; and quality check the results supplied by the sites. This will allow for the establishment of levels of accuracy and error margins, and assess limitations from the city drug checking sites. The information produced can then be used to inform services and individuals as well as feeing into Public Health Scotland’s RADAR system.

Once the national hub has been established it has the potential to be used to provide a similar type of service as the WEDINOS service currently operating in Wales.