Seòmar agus comataidhean

I just want to raise the issue of the potential for increased animal testing, which has been raised in relation to the implementation of REACH.

We would hope that would be the case, too.

I want to ask about the potential for increased animal testing, which is something that has been raised in relation to the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals regulation.

Does that relate to international obligations? Are those baked into that provision or, again, is that part of being satisfied?

Is that also coming through the EU refit process? Is the EU responding to the need for reform relating to transparency in wider public health?

With the delay in evaluations, is there a danger that we will run behind the science? What assessment has been made of the potential risks of that to the environment and human health?

Lung conditions are the third leading cause of death in the UK, with more than 2,500 premature deaths per year in Scotland being attributed to air pollution. In that context, what action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that local authorities are required to deliver robust and up-to-date air quality action plans with specified target dates?

So we will just have to guess what the impact is. Thank you.

I will come back to Louise Thornton about the social media strategy. I was interested to hear that the BBC is now on TikTok. Will the BBC also be going on Twitch, for example? How do you see the platforms evolving, and what will be the BBC’s involvement in them?

Alex Paterson, I would like to ask about the particular issues around managing the historic assets that are under your care, particularly with regard to the masonry issues at the moment. We have had a submission from the Institute of Conservation, which said:

“There has been a lack of investment ... for many decades”.

That means that this is not a Covid issue or a cost of living issue but one that has been evolving over time. The submission also said:

“the burden of maintenance and repair is increasing.”

Do you recognise that the issue is having quite an impact on certain communities now? I use the example of Dunblane, where the graves at Dunblane cathedral have been fenced off for the best part of two years, and it is starting to make the historic quarter of the town look quite dilapidated. There is a lot of frustration about the impact on the surrounding community. It is a difficult issue, but do you recognise that? Do you see a way out of that situation? Some of our historic assets now are effectively being frozen and it is having an impact on many communities.

Great—thank you.

I move to Sir John Leighton and Lucy Casot on another issue. I am aware that there has been a programme on Scotland’s colonial history and legacy, which has been a detailed piece of work for museums and galleries. One of the recommendations from that is the principle of culturally important objects being potentially repatriated, and there being restitution. Is that work progressing with your institutions and, if so, how? Repatriation could be an opportunity to strengthen cultural links with former colonial countries and communities in the way, for example, that was achieved with the repatriation of the ghost dance shirt nearly 20 years ago, or it could be seen as losing attractive assets from collections. I am interested to know how that work is progressing.