Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has had several discussions with Cornerstone about its dispute with UNISON. The Scottish Government has also been liasing with UNISON.

Scottish ministers are keen that both parties enter into negotiations as soon as possible and officials will continue to liaise with Cornerstone and UNISON until a resolution is found. Scottish ministers are writing to both organisations offering support in reaching an agreement.

At present there is no recognised Scottish Government post or position of “Fair Work Ambassador”. As such the Chief Executive of Cornerstone, nor any other individual has been or is recognised as such.

We have taken action to ensure that the term “Scottish Government” is not appropriate to be applied in any context of an organisation or individual being described as a “Fair Work Ambassador".

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government does not hold any information on this organisation in respect of its charitable status or activities .

Charity regulation and associated statutory action is for the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), which operates independently of the Scottish Government. I understand OSCR has opened an inquiry into the Institute for Statecraft.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-20334 on 18 December 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

The Scottish Government is fully committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland delivers high quality, safe and effective person centre care. It is for clinicians, in consultation with the patient, to discuss and agree the best treatment options based on clinical guidance and individual circumstances and needs.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is widely recognised by health care professionals as an important element of respiratory disease care. It has a well-established evidence base for its benefits in helping to support self-management and reduce exacerbation and hospital admissions.

This is why it is already a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines, that NHS Boards are expected to follow.

Access to pulmonary rehabilitation will form an important part of the Scottish Respiratory Care Action Plan that we are developing with the aim to raise awareness and drive improvement in outcomes for people with long-term respiratory conditions.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and British Lung Foundation are involved in the development of the Plan from the early stages. We value their expert advice on the best approach to raising patients awareness of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-02462 on 24 October 2018 which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11724&i=106125

The total budgeted funding (revenue and capital) provided to the City of Edinburgh Council by the Scottish Government in each year since 2011-12 is set out in the following table.

Both the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and I meet with COSLA and individual local authorities, including the City of Edinburgh Council, on a regular basis and discuss a range of issues including future funding. Indeed I met representatives of the Council on 22 November. The outcome of these discussions will be announced as part of the 2019-20 Scottish Budget on 12 December.