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We know the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing structural inequality in society, putting minority ethnic and migrant communities disproportionately at risk and having more adverse impacts on their mental health. That is why we are undertaking a range of activity to specifically support their mental health and wellbeing. The Scottish Government’s Race Equality: Immediate Priorities Plan sets out our immediate priorities to implement the recommendations of the Expert Reference Group for Covid-19. In 2021-22 that included investing £21m into the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for adults to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities faced by a range of ‘at risk’ groups including minority ethnic people. We also provided £150k to MECOPP and £20k to Progress in Dialogue to work in and with Gypsy/Traveller communities to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people.

More generally, we are working to ensure everyone can access appropriate mental health care and continue to increase our investment in crucial services and infrastructure. Our Transition & Recovery Plan, backed by £120m of recurring funding is transforming services, with a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention. We established an Equality and Human Rights Forum to provide advice on the implementation of the Transition and Recovery Plan and wider work within mental health policy, including the development of our new Mental Health Strategy. This Forum includes representation from minority ethnic groups.

The Scottish Government launched the Social Care Staff Support Fund on 25 June 2020 to ensure that social care workers receive their expected income should they be off ill or self-isolating due to coronavirus.

Staffing costs claimed through sustainability payments encompass the Social Care Staff Support Fund, the staff movement policy and other additional staffing arrangements therefore, we do not have data broken down to the level that you have requested. The guidance for the financial support for social care providers recommends a light touch approach to gathering evidence, recognising the administrative burden of claiming additional costs on both commissioners and providers alike, whilst they respond to the pandemic.

Feedback from stakeholders confirms that the Social Care Staff Support Fund has been utilised to prevent financial hardship for eligible social care workers.

NHS 24 conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Helpline data on the use of the service as well as examining the service model. This will inform the development of a new pathway, with particular consideration being given to digital options and a more preventative approach.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09575 on 25 July 2022 for the next steps. 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 .

There continues to be an increase in the prison population since the easing of lockdown, which has been largely driven by growth in the remand population. We continue to monitor the prison population to ensure prisons remain safe and well ordered.

We are taking actions and working towards using imprisonment only for those who pose a risk of serious harm and only be contemplated where absolutely necessary.

We are making a total investment of over £3.1 billion in 2022-23 to strengthen and reform vital services across the justice sector including substantial expansion of community justice services supporting diversion from prosecution, alternatives to remand and community sentencing.

The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Scottish Parliament on 8 June 2022. The provisions of this Bill are intended to introduce a number of reforms designed to deliver on the Scottish Government’s commitment to refocus how imprisonment is used. They are intended to ensure that, as much as possible, the use of custody for remand is a last resort for the court, and to give a greater focus to the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals leaving custody.

We are also investing over £500 million in the prison estate over this parliamentary term which will allow the Scottish Prison Services to meet the needs of the diverse prison population, realise the associated benefits and ensure equality of access to regimes and services.

The minutes of the meetings of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction are not currently published but information on previous meetings can be made available on request.

Membership of the Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction comprises:

Shona Artale; Q 2 Solutions (Life Sciences); Justin Black; Hays (Recruitment); Craig Clark; Space Scotland (Space Sector); Mark Cowan; Scottish Leather Group (Advanced Manufacture: Mechanical); Shona Darroch; Diodes (Advanced Manufacture: Electronic); Steven Grier; Microsoft (UK) (Tech Sector); Colin Halpin; Scottish Financial Enterprise (Financial Services); Gordon McGuinness; Skills Development Scotland (Skills Agency); Julie Morrison; Scottish Enterprise (Enterprise Agency); Sarah Ronald; Nile HQ (FinTech); Greig Rooney; Valneva (Inward Investment); Ross Tuffee; Digital Technology Skills Group (Tech Sector); and Morag Watson; Scottish Renewables (Renewables).

The Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction met on 19 April 2022 and 8 June 2022. It is next scheduled to meet on 1 September 2022.

The Industry Advisory Group for rUK Talent Attraction was established to share talent attraction expertise.

Part of the remit of the group is to identify locations across the rUK and to develop talent attraction activities to target opportunities that will create jobs and bring wider benefits to positively impact on Scotland’s regions and wider economy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-09419 on 13 July 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-09230 on 11 July 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 .