Chamber and committees

I have a question for COSLA, if I may. My question is related to the need to ensure that we have support and resource. We talked earlier about the increase that we have seen for all the various reasons that we have discussed, and Mr Mulholland spoke about the excellent work that is happening in schools and the excellent support that is being provided to people with additional support needs.

All that considered, I am also mindful of what Mr Rennie highlighted in relation to the national conversation. As a constituency MSP for seven years, I am aware of the great work that happens in my constituency, but I am also aware of the challenges that exist because of demand. I direct this question to COSLA. Given the pressure on the public finances that we are all aware of, and given that this is a collective issue for us all in Scotland, has realistic and robust analysis been done on an approximate figure that COSLA would ask of central Government to deal with that demand and/or any flexibilities? Has the additional resource that would make a difference been quantified? Has that ever been assimilated?

All those points are appreciated. If you were able to provide a figure on what would make a difference in the school setting, that would be useful and of interest to the committee.

I have a quick question that goes back to the subject of engagement. It was good to hear about regular engagement with the Welsh Government, because the officials who had been working on the Taith programme said that there had been no such engagement for some time. I had anticipated that, although there had been no engagement with those specific officials in the Welsh Government, there would have been regular contact between yourselves and others in the Welsh Government, so it was great to hear you clarify that. It was also helpful to hear about engagement with the UK Government on the Turing scheme and what could be learned and considered in that regard.

Given that the Scottish Government is held in such high esteem in Brussels, and that Scotland’s position on the European question is so strong, I presume that there is also good engagement between relevant persons and authorities—the Scottish Government and our institutions—and our partners in Brussels that could be utilised to come up with the best possible scheme.

I welcome that. Thank you, minister.

I beg your pardon.

Are you referring mostly to reserved regulations, such as those related to the exit from the European Union?

Having our own voice in the room is a welcome addition instead of a complex duplication.

Please excuse me, but I am going to take us back to a few earlier points. There was some discussion about our presence in Africa. This can be an open question to come back on, if people do not have an answer now. The Scottish Government has an international development presence in Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda. As part of the considerations going forward, it would be interesting to know whether there is a particular city or country in which business interests in particular think that a Scottish Government presence would be helpful, appropriate and useful. That is my first question.

My second question goes back to a point that we discussed some moments ago about Scotland being a good global citizen. Without meaning to be overly semantic, I wondered whether a more inclusive and helpful approach might be to think of Scotland promoting good global citizenship among its domestic population and more widely. I am interested to hear any thoughts on that.

That is no problem. Thank you, Mr Williams. Do not feel that you have to answer if you have nothing more to add.

Thanks, convener. Ms Shand, you have talked twice about red tape. Are there any particular regulations that you want to emphasise, and are they devolved or reserved regulations? I want to get a better understanding of what you find prohibitive.