Chamber and committees

Full details of the Scottish Government's monitoring and evaluation of International Development spending is available at Monitoring and evaluating international funding - International development - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

We are working towards publishing the refreshed Culture Strategy Action Plan before the end of the year. As part of this, we have been working with the culture sector to identify priority workstreams to support recovery and renewal, taking into account the combined impact of the Covid pandemic, EU Exit, and the cost of living crisis, and are considering the recommendations from the Creative Industries Leadership Group and National Partnership for Culture. We published the Scottish Government’s response to the National Partnership for Culture recommendations in September 2022.

Funding decisions will be set out in the 2023-24 Scottish Budget later this year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11261 on 19 October 2022. 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

Non-contracted spend, including the remaining Youth Music Initiative budget, was considered as part of the cost of living emergency budget review following the announcement of the review by the First Minister on 11 August, which was further outlined in the Deputy First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 7 September.

The announcement of the emergency budget review, as noted in the response to question S6W-11144 on 19 October 2022, confirmed a pause to all non-contracted spend, which included the remaining Youth Music Initiative budget.

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

In this government’s first 100 days, we established six pilot schemes to provide free bikes for school age children who cannot afford one. A further four pilots were then established by the end of 2021.

The official pilot period for these pilots has now concluded, and a final evaluation is being collated. We expect to receive the evaluation in early November and will be publishing it on the Transport Scotland website thereafter.

While responsibility for immigration rests with the UK and we are clear the UK immigration system is not working for Scotland’s economy, public services or communities, the Scottish Government will do all we can to attract and retain people in Scotland. Last year we launched Moving to Scotland – an online resource providing information and signposting to people who have just moved to Scotland or who are thinking of moving here. In addition to Moving to Scotland we have committed to launching a Talent Attraction and Migration Service that will attract people to come and live in Scotland, help those moving to Scotland settle into their communities and support employers to navigate the immigration system. We are currently designing the service to ensure it achieves these outcomes and once we have completed this phase, will launch the service during 2023.

Migration from the rest of the UK to Scotland:

Estimates from National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that an annual average of 38,543 working-age (16-64) people have migrated from the rest of the UK to Scotland over the last five years of data (2016-17 to 2020-21).

However, over the same period, there has also been an average annual outflow (from Scotland to other parts of the UK) of 31,585 working age people – an annual average net flow (inflows minus outflows) of 6,958.

As part of our priority National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) action, an Industry Advisory Group for rest of UK (rUK) Talent Attraction, chaired by Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise Minister, Ivan McKee, has been formed to share talent attraction expertise to identify and develop effective approaches to attracting talent from rUK.

The Industry Advisory Group (IAG) has met four times since being established in April 2022. The Group’s membership includes senior leaders from the Life Sciences, Tech / FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing – mechanical and electronics, Financial Services, Space and Renewables sectors, and has identified priority workstreams including; Data, Skills Shortages, Advertising and Marketing, Landing Support and Partner Support, Student Retention and Alumni; and Existing Pools of Talent.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has been a policy-led event from inception. While successful delivery of the 13 world championships in August 2023 is a key focus, an overarching aim is to use the event as a catalyst for positive change and encourage more people to participate in cycling.

We are working closely with Cycling World Championships Limited and other partners to ensure that the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships supports increased cycling participation in Scotland. We have created a Policy Advisory Group, to help drive forward the wider policy ambitions of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, bringing together Cycling World Championships partners to assist with join up across policy areas, and to consider initiatives and approaches. There are six policy pillars. These are: Participation; Sport; Transport; Industry; Tourism; and Events. Getting more people on bikes is fundamental to success in all of these areas.

More specifically, through ‘Inspired By’ projects the Scottish Government aims to use the Championships as a catalyst for change and leave lasting benefits, increasing cycling participation. These projects include delivering accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities through the £8 million Cycling Facilities Fund and engaging in every Local Authority area through the £1 million Community Cycling Fund will provide opportunities and inspiration to cycle.

The Championships is also working with Scottish Cycling and Cycling Scotland to increase cycling participation levels, develop sporting excellence through their talent and performance programmes and target a more diverse audience through programmes such as Scottish Cycling’s ‘Lets Ride, Breeze‘, aimed specifically at women and young people, and Cycling Scotland’s ‘Pedal’ events –supporting people new and returning to cycling, including families.

There are also opportunities for communities to get more directly involved with the event itself, for example through the volunteering programme. This will provide positive, high quality and meaningful volunteering opportunities. The programme is open for applications until 31 October with more details available at: Volunteer with us | 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (cyclingworldchamps.com) .

Furthermore the promotional strategy for the championships is to appeal to a broad and diverse audience, not just those that are existing fans of cycling or cyclists. Diverse imagery will be used, and not just in a sporting context, to promote a variety of different uses of the bike and reinforce the message that cycling is for all.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to amplify and accelerate opportunities linked to the Championships, including with a view to increasing participation in cycling.

In August 2023 Scotland will host the first ever Cycling World Championships, which is predicted to welcome 2,600 elite cyclists, including para-athletes, from 120 countries, and up to 1 million spectators. The Scottish Government aims to spread the benefits from major events across Scotland. The Championships will take place across a number of locations in Scotland. The road races will pass through many communities, bringing opportunities to experience the excitement of the Championships to a wide audience in Scotland.

We are working closely with Cycling World Championships Limited and other partners to ensure communities across Scotland benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

A key aspect of delivering local community benefits is the ‘Inspired By’ projects, where the aim is to use the Championships as a catalyst for change and leave lasting benefits. The most notable ‘Inspired By’ project to date is the £8m Cycling Facilities Fund, which aims to provide accessible, inclusive and inspiring facilities and so increase participation in cycling, which can have physical health, metal health and environmental benefits. sportscotland has made 23 awards already across Scotland, with further awards to follow.

Another Inspired By project is the Community Cycling Fund which was announced on 19 May 2022, providing at least £1 million of support. The Fund is a joint initiative between the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, EventScotland and sportscotland. The fund has been developed with the aim of creating a national celebration of cycling across all of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas in the build up to the Championships, and to create lasting benefit post-event.

There are also opportunities for communities to get more directly involved with the event itself, for example through the volunteering programme. This will provide positive, high quality and meaningful volunteering opportunities. The aim is that the programme will engage new audiences into the joy of volunteering, be accessible and inclusive and increase community engagement with the championships. The programme is open for applications until 31 October with more details available at: Volunteer with us | 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (cyclingworldchamps.com).

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to amplify and accelerate activity linked to the Championships, including with a view to delivering further community benefits.