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While funding for the national collections is a direct responsibility of the Scottish Government, other museums and galleries are core funded from a variety of sources including local government. The Scottish Government is in discussion with Museums Galleries Scotland to understand the current challenges facing smaller organisations. Museums Galleries Scotland provides development and project funding to the sector on behalf of the Scottish Government. In view of cost increases museums across Scotland are facing, Museums Galleries Scotland has decided to pause its planned grants programme in order to review whether it is the most effective way to meet the needs of the sector at this challenging time. They are working on this as a matter of urgency and will announce any revisions to their programme to the sector as soon as possible.

A number of papers covering the opportunities of independence will be published over the coming months as part of the Building a New Scotland prospectus series. The series will be published in good time before an independence referendum takes place, to allow the people of Scotland to make an informed choice over their future.

As the First Minister has previously set out, papers to come later in the series will cover matters including currency, the public finances, pensions and social security, EU membership and trade, and defence and security.

The First Minister has written once to the new Prime Minister. The letter, dated 6 September 2022 and focusing on the cost crisis, was published on the Scottish Government website and a link is provided below.

Cost crisis: letter to new Prime Minister - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on‎ 29 September 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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on 29 September 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

The National Collections are an important part of Scotland’s culture. As part of setting and reviewing annual budgets for grant in aid, the Scottish Government maintains close contact with National Museums Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland about their cost and revenue, in order to continue to ensure that their permanent collections remain open to the public free of charge.

The crew of the MS Ambition and MS Victoria are paid by the charter company that CTM chartered on the Scottish Government’s behalf. CTM have confirmed that all crew operating on both vessels are at a minimum being paid in line with the National Minimum Wage and are fully compliant with Maritime Labour Convention requirements for seafarer contracts of employment. In addition to wages, as part of the seafarers contract of employment the crew receive accommodation, food and beverage at no charge, flights and other travel related costs to both join and leave the vessel (at end of contract), uniform and medical expenses during service onboard.

Scottish Government officials regularly meet with local authority staff and ship senior management to ensure the wellbeing and safety of those arriving from Ukraine are central to the provision. This includes work to ensure that all staff are adequately qualified and checked to support the safety of children and adults on board.

Organisations providing services aboard the ships such as local authorities, third and voluntary sectors partners, as well as private employers are responsible for their own background and Disclosure checks on their staff, in the same way that applies to those supporting other Warm Scots Welcome accommodation, such as hotels. Those staff members or volunteers who are resident in Scotland, and whose role supports ‘regulated work’ will have undertaken the necessary Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) level, deemed appropriate for their role. PVG checks can only be progressed for those people resident in the UK or where there is an agreement with other states. Where this doesn’t apply, the background checks undertaken by the Home Office provide assurance to our contract managers. In addition, we have worked with local authorities and other partners to ensure that all crew of the MS Victoria and MS Ambition have a minimum of child and adult protection training and we continue to work collaboratively to ensure additional safeguarding training and resources are made available.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on‎ 29 September 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

Scottish Ministers are required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to review the National Outcomes within five years of their previous publication. The 2015 Act stipulates the consultation requirements, including its period, consultees, and requirement to consult with and lay a final report in the Parliament.

I confirmed to the Finance and Public Administration Committee our plans for the review of the National Outcomes on two occasions ( 21 September 2021 and 31 May 2022 ) explaining that the external engagement for the Review will commence in 2022, with the aim of laying the statutory report in Parliament during the third Parliamentary term in 2023.