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The Resource Spending Review is not a budget and Level 4 information will be published as part of the annual budget process. The Resource Spending Review sets out the high-level parameters for resource spend within future Scottish Budgets up to 2026-27. The financial information is therefore published at Level 2 to provide partners with as much certainty as is possible, and to frame the engagement with delivery partners that is now being taken forward.

The figures set out in the Resource Spending Review are based on current forecasts and constitutional arrangements. The prevailing uncertain economic context and the volatility attached to our current fiscal arrangements makes it necessary that the annual budget, which will provide level 3 and 4 detail, will reflect any subsequent changes to the funding scenario set out in the RSR.

As set out in the Transport Scotland Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, it is planned to electrify the route to Dundee and Aberdeen by 2035.

The decarbonisation of the lines to Dundee and Aberdeen form later phases of the rolling programme, they are at an early stage of development with a detailed implementation programme and cost estimate still to be developed.

The First Minister is hosting a summit on abortions on 27 June, and an invitation has been offered to the Scottish Trade Union Congress.

In addition to this, Scottish Government has publically stated that it will work constructively with Gillian Mackay MSP on her forthcoming Member’s Bill on buffer zones. Prior to the launch of her consultation, Ms Mackay met with trade unions to discuss her proposal. Ms Mackay also met with myself and the my working group, to discuss her proposal and seek the views of members.

We published our Respiratory Care Action Plan for Scotland in March 2021. Since its publication we have established the Scottish Respiratory Advisory Committee (SRAC) to provide governance and oversight of the Plan implementation.

The SRAC held their first meeting in October of last year, at which, the SRAC agreed three initial priority areas for the first year of implementation. These are: pulmonary rehabilitation, data and child to adult transition services. Sub-groups have been established for each of these priority areas with membership comprising of clinical experts and third sector.

Each of the sub-groups have held their first meeting with further meetings taking place ahead of the SRAC in July. We are continuing to work with the SRAC to identify further commitments in the Plan that can begin to be progressed.

We have also funded The Alliance to launch a Respiratory lived experience network, in order to ensure that the experiences of those living with respiratory conditions are taken into account when delivering the commitments in the RCAP. The Respiratory Network was launched on 14 December 2021. The Network is represented on each of the sub-groups and the Alliance is currently working with sub-group members to determine the first pieces of work it will take to the Network. The Alliance is also in the process of expanding the Network’s membership to target groups specifically affected by the sub-groups’ focuses.

The information on properties purchased through the Scottish Government shared equity schemes (Help to Buy (Scotland), the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme, New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) and the First Home Fund is not recorded by Scottish Parliamentary region. It is recorded by Local Authority area and information on the numbers of properties purchased in each year of each scheme can be found in the published figures at the following links.

Help to Buy (Scotland) under Monitoring Information Report

https://www.gov.scot/policies/homeowners/help-to-buy/

Open Market Shared Equity and New Supply Shared Equity under Affordable Housing Supply Programme annual out-turn reports and related data

https://www.gov.scot/policies/more-homes/affordable-housing-supply/

First Home Fund

https://www.gov.scot/publications/first-home-fund-spend-and-units-monitoring-information-report-december-2019-to-march-2021/

The Scottish Government is working towards the development of a Scottish Education Exchange Programme fit for Scotland. We will provide more details in due course.

The Resource Spending Review provides the financial parameters for Scottish Government portfolios to collaborate with delivery partners and stakeholders to develop more detailed financial and organisational planning ahead of the next Budget in Winter 2022.

We had on average seven full-time equivalent Scottish Government Officials working on international further and higher education policy within the Advanced Learning and Science Directorate during the 2021-22 financial year.

The UK Government's response to the Ukraine crisis is predicated upon complex, bureaucratic, short-term visas, not humanitarian need. Inordinate time and effort has been required to patch this broken system. Scotland's super-sponsor scheme seeks to do just this. But there remain serious gaps in the UK's schemes even in the short term – in particular routes for vulnerable unaccompanied children and others left out of the existing schemes.

In my regular correspondence, I have pressed the UK government to put people before process. I have been clear that, while many displaced people will want to return to Ukraine when it is safe to do so, the UK should offer sanctuary for as long as is required, and permanently if necessary.

The Scottish Government are committed to ensuring that all people living in Scotland with long-term conditions such as arthritis are able to access the best possible care and support, and benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put the person at the centre of their care.

I have had two meetings with Versus Arthritis at which they outlined their campaign. I also spoke at their webinar/conference, which was held earlier this year.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with Versus Arthritis regarding how best to jointly support patients living with arthritis. This will be an ongoing process involving essential collaboration with patients, carers and service providers, including the third sector and clinicians.