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Since May 2021, Ministerial oversight of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has been led by the Minister for Europe and International Development until January 2022, then the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development from January 2022 until May 2024. I took over Ministerial oversight of HES in May 2024.

In that time period, I have not attended any board meetings of HES. However, the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers have met regularly with the Chief Executive as is normal convention for non-departmental public bodies.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is a non-ministerial department of the devolved Scottish Administration. The NRS Chief Executive is supported by an advisory board in the effective discharge of their statutory responsibilities. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Ministers to attend these meetings.

In the last twelve months, I have met the NRS Chief Executive on 11 separate occasions. The NRS Chief Executive also provides me with routine written updates.

The Scottish Government is committed to forging a constructive relationship with nations across the UK and collaborating on issues of mutual interest. The First Minister meets a range of people from across the UK and abroad and is supported in doing so by civil servants as appropriate.

The meeting on 30 October 2025 was requested by Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, and covered the close relationship between Wales and Scotland, and the challenges both countries face, such as tackling child poverty.

This engagement was separate and distinct from any engagement that may take place between Plaid Cymru and the SNP, which is not supported by the civil service.

Scottish Ministers do not routinely attend Architecture & Design Scotland board meetings and I have not attended any board meetings of the body since May 2021. Most recently, I met with the Architecture & Design Scotland Chair and Chief Executive in November 2024. A senior official in the sponsor directorate attends the Architecture & Design Scotland AGM on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Officials also regularly attend A&DS board meetings as requested as an observer.

The Scottish Government assesses value for money and accountability on all City Region and Growth Deal projects. Each project must develop a robust business case, aligned with HM Treasury’s Green Book which is reviewed by Government officials to ensure it delivers social and economic benefits, is deliverable and sustainable. The economic case of each project business case in particular must demonstrate associated cost-benefit and value for money assessments.

Accountability rests primarily with regional partners, who are empowered to identify, manage and deliver projects which deliver economic growth opportunities within their geographical areas. A strong governance framework underpins each Deal which includes locally elected member oversight and regular performance reporting at quarterly and annual junctures with Government officials where progress is rigorously reviewed.

The Scottish Government also provides oversight via co-chairing the Scottish City Region and Growth Deals Delivery Board, ensuring appropriate scrutiny and oversight of this £3.4 billion programme of investment.

Scottish Government’s grant conditions require all funded youth organisations to comply with the clauses as set out in their grant letter. Clause 4.7 requires them to: have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to protect vulnerable adults and children which comply with current national guidance in Scotland; report all and any cases of suspected abuse or malpractice relating to anyone involved in delivery of the agreed Activities or any beneficiary of these Activities to Scottish Ministers and the relevant authorities immediately; and provide, upon request, copies of their policies and procedures.

It is a legal requirement for people carrying out regulated roles with children or protected adults to be in the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. Organisations must not offer a regulated role to an individual without confirming scheme membership.

Disclosure Scotland carried out a major public communications campaign earlier this year to ensure that stakeholders, including youth groups, understand that the PVG Scheme is now a legal requirement for people doing regulated roles with children and protected adults.

In 2025-26, the Scottish Government are providing grant funding to Youth Scotland to deliver capacity-building for youth workers and volunteers through training and workforce development. This includes further development of a suite of online resources including safeguarding policies and procedures.

The Deal publishes both Annual and Quarterly Performance Reports to Governments and the City Region Cabinet, which are publicly available and report on delivery of the Deal.

Our investment has delivered significant outcomes to date including 34.9 hectares of enhanced public realm, more than 68 kilometres of new cycling and pedestrian routes, and over 63 hectares of vacant and derelict land reclaimed. At the tenth anniversary last year, partners announced that £880 million of follow-on investment has been secured.

Further benefits, including jobs, will be assessed as projects are completed and evaluated.

The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of the prevalence of organised crime in small retail businesses.

The Scottish Government works with members of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce (SOCT) to detect and disrupt organised crime in Scotland. I chaired a meeting of the SOCT on 13 November where members heard an update from Police Scotland and other law enforcement partners on Operation Machinize followed by a presentation from Trading Standards officials on organised crime on the high streets.

Operation Machinize was launched by law enforcements partners in England earlier this year. This was in response to growing intelligence reports that some retail premises are being used for money laundering and other criminal activity. These include vape shops, Turkish barbers, mini-markets and other cash-intensive businesses, which can be fronts for organised crime. The second phase, which included Police Scotland and other partners based at the Scottish Crime Campus, took place during the month of October and has achieved some successful results.

Decisions around the Scottish Government’s Budget are being considered over the coming months. The Scottish Government will continue to work collaboratively with Universities Scotland on developing a framework for the sustainability of universities, including considering future funding needs.

Through our International Education Strategy, we are committed to strengthening global connections through education and research exchange, in working collaboratively with our world leading universities and colleges, while promoting Scotland as a destination to live, work, and study.

The Scottish Government regularly liaises with the UK Government and law enforcement partners about money laundering.

As I referred to in my answer to S6W-41770 on 24 November 2025, Operation Machinize has had successful results in relation to disrupting activity within shops that are being used for money laundering.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.