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The Scottish Government are determined to minimise any potential impact on the defence sector from UK funding cuts. The announcements made by MOD 12 months ago, including, for example, the closure of Glencorse, a location that has seen considerable investment and which remains fit for purpose, are ill conceived and I have made this point to the Defence Secretary and his Ministers on several occasions.

We will continue to strongly oppose any further base closures in Scotland. We are committed to engaging with the MOD and the Defence Secretary for assurance that Scotland’s defence sector will not be further debilitated by UK Governments cuts.

Scottish defence industries are a key driver of innovation and boast highly skilled workforces. The Scottish government is committed to doing all we can to support the sector and the individuals within it. Through our enterprise agencies Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highland and Island Enterprise (HIE) companies involved in the defence sector in Scotland can access a wide range of support including R&D support, leadership and workforce development, and support to diversify into new products and markets.

We have a long and proud shipbuilding history and our yards on the Clyde and at Rosyth have proven their ability time and again to deliver important contracts such as the construction of the QEC Aircraft Carriers. Whilst we are pleased to finally have confirmation that eight Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde, we would also expect Scottish yards to be given full opportunity to bid for forthcoming defence contracts, including the Type 31.

Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers.

During the course of 2016-17 the maximum number of Special Advisers in post at any one time was 13. Taking into account departures, re-appointments and new appointments following the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections, a total of 16 Special Advisers were employed over the 12 month period, however during most of time between the start of the election period and the formation of the new administration there were only 3 advisers in post. The *total cost of the 16 Special Advisers employed during the financial year 2016-17 was £897,714.

There are currently 14 Special Advisers and their specific responsibilities are as follows:

*Total cost includes all salary costs, ERNIC and employer pension contributions. The level of the employer ERNIC and pension contributions is not a matter for the Scottish Government.

The Special Adviser Pay Bands and Ranges and the number of Special Advisers within each Pay Band currently in place are:

As part of our £1 million per annum Fair Food Fund we currently provide support to 13 food banks; six affiliated with the Trussell Trust and seven independents.

The Fair Food Fund supports the development of approaches that support people affected by food poverty in a dignified, sustainable way and that reduces reliance on emergency food aid. We believe access to sufficient, nutritious food is a basic human right and that no one in a nation as rich as Scotland should have to access food banks. We will continue to challenge the UK Government welfare cuts that are the key driver causing increased demand for emergency food provision.

The Scottish Government recognises the achievements of all the winners at the Scottish FA Grassroots Awards 2017, which were held at Hampden on 21 September.

This annual event celebrates the success and achievements of the unsung heroes across Scotland who bring football to their local communities.

I’d like to congratulate Drumchapel United, on winning its Best Community Football Club award recognising the role the club plays in the area.

Further to this, on the same evening, Drumchapel won the Community Hub/School/Club of the Year Award at the Team Scotland Awards sponsored by sportscotland.

I would be delighted to liaise with the Member to identify an opportunity for me to visit the club and congratulate the dedicated club volunteers in person.

In accordance with the Sewel Convention and Scotland Act 2016, the UK Parliament does not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament. The Convention covers legislation for devolved purposes (that is matters within the legislative competence of the Parliament), and changes to the competence of the Parliament or the Scottish Ministers (in line with the safeguards to competence set out in equivalent statutory procedures under the Scotland Act.).

The formal consent of the Scottish Parliament is required in relation to all proposals for Westminster primary legislation with regard to devolved matters, including alterations to devolved competence, in accordance with Chapter 9B of Standing Orders.

The Sewel Convention, in all its elements, is crucial to the devolution settlement, acknowledging the special constitutional position of the Scottish Parliament and the democratic mandate conferred on this Parliament by the people of Scotland. In the view of the Scottish Government, the Sewel Convention will remain an essential part of the constitution of the UK for as long as the Westminster Parliament retains its current powers and functions in relation to Scotland.

In the normal course of business, legislation for devolved purposes should be scrutinised and determined in the Scottish Parliament. There may however be situations in which it is helpful and appropriate for legislation for devolved purposes to be taken forward at Westminster.

The Scottish Government is committed to assessing opportunities of this kind on their merits and to working closely and constructively with the UK Government, on a case by case basis, to deliver legislation which best meets Scotland’s needs. The Scottish Government is equally committed to working with the UK Government to pursue opportunities to extend devolved competence of both this Parliament and Scottish Ministers, accountable to this Parliament.

Within the legislative programme announced today by the UK Government, we have identified potential opportunities to legislate for the benefit of Scotland on matters that are within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or which alter legislative or executive competence.

The UK bills which we currently expect to give rise to Legislative Consent Motions in the Scottish Parliament are the:

Financial Guidance and Claims Bill

Repeal Bill

The Scottish Government will consider the content of these Bills before deciding its recommendation to the Parliament on legislative consent. It will then be for the Scottish Parliament to determine whether to give or withhold consent.

It is possible that further opportunities to legislate for Scotland by means of Legislative Consent Motion may occur in connection with other UK bills, including Private Member’s bills. Any additional proposals of this kind, together with any relevant amendments to the UK Government bills listed above, will be drawn to the attention of the Parliament as they arise, in line with the requirements of Standing Orders.

In 2014, the shipbuilding sector accounted for £512 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) in Scotland. It is not possible to provide separate figures for Glasgow, and the rest of Scotland, due to confidentiality constraints.

Note that shipbuilding GVA figures for Scotland are sourced from the Annual Business Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics. Shipbuilding GVA figures for Scotland are published on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/SABS/ShipProfile. Data for 2015 will be published in August 2017.

Special Advisers are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a Special Adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers.

There are currently 12 Special Advisers in post and their specific responsibilities are as follows:

The Special Adviser Pay Bands and Ranges and the number of Special Advisers within each Pay Band currently in place are:

The estimated total cost of the current team of the 12 Special Advisers employed for a full 12 month period is £895,135. This includes all salary costs, ERNIC and employer pension contributions and the estimate can be broken down as follows:

ESTIMATED 12 MONTH COST OF CURRENT SPECIAL ADVISER TEAM

* The level of the employer ERNIC and pension contributions is not a matter for the Scottish Government.