Chamber and committees

Following on from that and from some of the evidence that we took from the previous witnesses, you talked about resources being joined-up between Marine Scotland and NatureScot, given that the science budget is limited. How are you working to use your scarce resources in the most appropriate manner to provide the right science?

Yes, I think that that is a huge conversation to have.

That is helpful. Before I was elected, I managed a small museum on Islay. Part of trying to spread the love, I suppose, of objects that are held in Scotland’s national institutions is about building trust and confidence in local organisations. It is wonderful to get an object that is appropriate to somebody who grew up on Islay. You are right that it is about trust and confidence.

My next question is for Kirsty Cumming. We have been through a difficult time with Covid, and we have changed the way that some things are done. I am interested in what you have learned. You suggested that you have lots of good examples of social prescribing and preventative measures. Will you share a few of them with us?

I have just jotted down a few things, collaboration and flexibility being two. I was having a conversation at the weekend about bringing people with a cultural background in to look at the way we do things or the way we budget. That may be an interesting way to move forward, because people are coming in with perhaps a different perspective as to how things could work. I will finish there. I have dropped a wee pebble in, and I will have a wee think about it myself.

That is helpful. I was at a concert at the weekend, and it was notable to see people together and the smiles and the enjoyment that people were experiencing.

I turn to Carol Calder. It is easy to audit numbers, which my colleague Maurice Golden talked about, but how does Audit Scotland audit the value added in respect of wellbeing and the softer benefits?

I would like to draw out a bit more on the collaboration side of things. We took some evidence from SENScot, which suggested that there might be a tension between local leadership within communities and how you work with grass-roots organisations. I am interested to hear how you collaborate with local organisations, specifically around Covid. We have heard throughout the session of examples of local grass-roots organisations having pivoted with the support of the local authorities, but I am interested to hear how local authorities have changed how you deliver your cultural side of things. What learnings have there been from Covid?

I reflect very positively on what the culture secretary has just said about Sistema and Big Noise, as I was involved right at the start of that. That is a very good example of different organisations pulling together to produce something that is very beneficial to those receiving it but also to those giving it.

Also looking at the Christie commission and the point about not duplicating, given that you were at the COVID-19 Recovery Committee earlier, I am interested to hear what you think that both health and culture can learn from the work that has got people through the pandemic. For example, in Oban there was a fantastic exhibition of art that people had used to help them get through the isolation of Covid. My question is about how we can use that to get us into and through the recovery. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Jane Salmonson, do you have anything to add to that?

The shock of something like this happening in a country that to all intents and purposes looks like ours has struck us all. When I was driving into the Parliament this morning, I was thinking about the reports of people having to melt snow for water. When it becomes as stark as that—and we have all seen the photographs of the maternity hospital being bombed—it is important to co-ordinate the aid that you have to ensure that it arrives at places of major need. Will you expand a wee bit on that?

Thank you for coming to give evidence. We have heard a bit about how co-ordination works in Scotland and the United Kingdom. I am interested to hear how you co-ordinate with other international aid organisations, either in Ukraine or the surrounding countries that you mentioned. Perhaps Madara Hettiarachchi is the appropriate person to answer that.