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The Scottish Government is aware of a range of views from football supporters when it comes to the availability of alcohol in football stadiums, and recognises there is an argument for football supporters to be afforded the same opportunities as fans at other sporting and cultural events. However, we currently have no plans to amend the legislation but remain open to discussions on this issue and will consider any proposals put forward.

Ministers listened closely to the sector in the development of this year’s budget, and we are investing over £1.1 billion in university teaching and research. In addition, the Scottish Government has made a further £25m of funding available to the Scottish Funding Council to support the sector in mitigating financial challenges.

The Scottish Funding Council monitors financial sustainability across the sector and Ministers have confidence in their ability and expertise. There are many factors impacting universities at the present time, including UK migration policies and the UK Government’s increase to employer national insurance contributions. The latter is estimated to cost Scottish universities over £48 million.

The Scottish Government has made £25m of funding available to the Scottish Funding Council to support the sector. The Scottish Funding Council has allocated £22m of this to the University of Dundee to support the university in addressing its immediate financial challenges.

The Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council will continue to explore all means possible and consider any reasonable asks to further support the University of Dundee as it develops a plan to secure a sustainable future. The Scottish Government will carefully consider any approaches for further emergency funding in relation to the financial challenges faced by the university.

Scottish Government works closely with the AI industry to ensure its policies are pro-innovation and meet the needs of businesses. Industry was a key partner in developing Scotland's 2021 Strategy, and our recently launched governance group includes senior business leaders from the AI start-up and business community.

As AI regulation is reserved to UK Government we continue to engage with its officials to advocate that their approach to AI regulation considers the interests of the citizens and businesses of Scotland.

Techscaler, our national support programme for start-ups has been actively engaged with the AI industry since its inception in 2022. Over the past two years, Techscaler has provided essential resources to numerous AI-focused start-ups helping them thrive. Techscaler holds no formal engagement with the AI Industry on regulation but recognises the importance of AI for new and upcoming start-ups, and therefore is incorporating AI into their programme and education courses in 2025.

As part of the , which I commissioned and which was published last year, engagement took place with the AI industry on investment. Officials regularly engage with investors on AI, however this is not specific to discussing the impact of regulation. However, we have been continuously engaging with the UK Government to advocate that their approach to the regulation of AI considers the interests of the citizens and businesses of Scotland.

AI has a huge potential to help deliver better and more efficient public services and work is on-going across the Scottish Government to make best use of the opportunities AI presents.

At the heart of good AI is good data. As part of the Open Government Action Plan work is already underway to share the data required to deliver more joined up and efficient public services. Modelling on public transport, climate change and government expenditure is already delivering results. Our Data Maturity Programme and Communities of Practice are ensuring that public sector organisations have the capabilities to make best use of data, along with our technical solutions for data cataloguing and secure data sharing.

Along side work on good data management, we are also making use of the CivTech challenge process to deliver innovative and ground breaking technical solutions to real world public service challenges. The current challenge round, CivTech 10, focuses on AI, reflecting its importance across multiple sectors, including government.

Current challenges include work to improve situational awareness for emergency responders, and how we can better support and encourage public participation in decision-making. These challenges also help us meet our commitment to ensuring that a large part of our technical spend goes to small, innovative businesses, making the most of Scotland’s natural desire to innovate and improve.

Out Intelligent Automation team is also making use of AI in a number of cross Scotland projects, all designed to identify areas where a Once for Scotland approach to system design can reduce the admin burden across the public sector. Reducing costs and increasing efficiency are key drivers behind our increasing use of AI. Machine Learning has been integrated into invoice processing procedures, application processing for child and disability payments and in document redaction.

We continue to engage with the UK Government around the development and introduction of regulation around the use of AI. We are very keen to see regulation which protects our citizens and their data, but which at the same time creates an environment where innovation can flourish. We want Scotland to continue to be regarded as an attractive place for businesses to invest, and where our workforce can benefit from the increased opportunities new technology can offer.

The Scottish Government would be willing to look at proposals from either the Scottish FA or SPFL. To date, we have not received any proposals.

Scotland's current and future technology-enabled businesses depend on a strong and growing supply of people equipped with the appropriate skills for careers in AI.

AI skills needs are diverse and, beyond the more obvious Science and Engineering specialisms, include non tech skills from the humanities and also more foundational tech skills (which apply to careers outside AI).

Among the more foundational tech skills, highlighted as a key theme in the Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review (STER), we are addressing provision of tech skills through the teacher-led body – Scottish Teachers Advancing Computing Science. STACS runs extra-curricular activities, promotes computing science as a valued career option and provides a resource centre allowing teachers to enhance their learning support for young people.

Widening access to careers in AI through upskilling is also key for building an inclusive and future-ready workforce. Skills programmes which support widening access are being delivered by the AI Alliance through our free national AI literacy programme and our AI Playbook which provides AI upskilling for SMEs and businesses.

Scottish ministers have been consistently clear about the devastating consequences that the UK Government’s approach to migration has had on Scotland’s education sector and our economy to date. International students, academics and research staff in our world-class universities make a vital contribution to Scotland's prosperity.

We need meaningful engagement with the UK Government on migration and we welcome further clarity on the UK Government’s approach, aligning migration policy with skills policy and look forward to more detail on the anticipated role of the Devolved Governments in this approach.

The Scottish Government does not collect information on the age profile of scanning equipment held by NHS Boards. As holding bodies, NHS Boards are responsible for the management of their infrastructure assets and for identifying maintenance and replacement requirements.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was established in 2020, to investigate planning, design, construction and maintenance of both the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital/ Royal Hospital for Children (QEUH/RHC) and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People/Department of Clinical Neurosciences (RHCYP/DCN). To that end, the Inquiry recently concluded 12 weeks of hearings into the QEUH/RHC’s built environment and the potential causal links to hospital acquired infections.

The evidence which was presented and heard at the recent hearing has been published by the Inquiry and is available on the Inquiry’s website ().

In Counsel to the Inquiry’s closing statement, concerns were raised regarding the recommended guidelines for ventilation at the QEUH/RHC.

Lord Brodie has made it clear that the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is on-going and therefore no conclusions should be taken from submissions to the Inquiry at this stage. Further oral hearings into the QEUH/RHC are scheduled for later this year.

Like all hospital sites, there is a comprehensive system of clinical oversight and patient safety monitoring at the QEUH/RHC. There has been no information reported through our robust governance arrangements which questions the safety of the hospital.

In addition, there have been no healthcare associated infection incidents reported to Scottish Government in the last 12 months relating to concerns on ventilation control.

To provide additional assurance, I have written to Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to undertake a formal review of the action plan arising from their Infection Prevention and Control inspection in 2022; to check the progress made against the recommendations and requirements.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. This would need to be requested from the NHS Boards directly. It is for NHS Boards to ensure best use of available resources to support service delivery whilst prioritising patient safety and care.