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The Director General and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which we exchanged views on the depopulation challenges that both Scotland and Spain face and, following from the work done recently by officials in the Scottish Government’s Population and Migration team, proposed a policy exchange so that we can learn from the expertise in both countries.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussion. However, Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

The topic of Scottish Independence was not discussed at this meeting, which was about the important role of the cultural national collections, their current challenges post-pandemic and future plans.

Congressman Steve Cohen and I held a positive meeting in April last year, in which we spoke about Scottish and US relations and Representative Cohen’s membership of the Friends of Scotland Caucus in the US Congress.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and I had a constructive meeting in November last year during which he acknowledged Scottish Ministers’ need to conduct international business. I made it clear that I would continue to represent Scottish Government positions internationally, including on the constitution.

The Belgian Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about the circular economy, wellbeing economy and climate governance policy matters.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

The Canadian Ambassador to the EU and I held a positive meeting in May last year, in which we spoke about trade and cultural links between Scotland and Canada, as well as both countries' energy and climate change priorities.

The subject of Scottish independence was not an agenda item in discussions, however Scottish ministers will always be polite enough during international meetings to answer any questions put to them about the Scottish Government's stated policies, including a legal, constitutionally sound referendum, as set out in our Programme for Government.

Financial support for travel to hospital is available for patients and authorised escorts, in line with eligibility criteria and medical requirements.

We continue to work with Boards to build on the significant innovation seen throughout the pandemic, in order to limit the need for travel where possible and clinically appropriate. For example, through increased use of digital and technological solutions such as Near Me to improve flexibility of care.

Where travel is necessary, Boards are expected to support patients to identify and access support available, taking account individual circumstances and ensuring patient care is at the centre of all decisions.

Ofcom’s Connected Nations report for 2022 – published on 15th December – indicates that over 99% of all properties across Scotland can access a reliable broadband connection, with less than 1% unable to access broadband of at least 2 Megabits per second (Mbps).

Ofcom figures also show that gigabit-capable broadband access across Scotland has increased substantially in recent years from just 10% at the start of 2020 to 62% in September 2022. This is, in large part, a direct result of the policies we have put in place to improve Scotland’s digital connectivity, despite telecommunications being reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government’s investment in the R100 programme is also now delivering full-fibre, gigabit-capable connections at pace in some of our most rural communities.

In the south of Scotland, the additional £36 million investment we announced in August 2022 will extend full-fibre broadband access to a further 2,637 properties across Scotland – including 1,149 properties through the R100 South contract on top of the 20,740 properties already within contract build plans.

The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme – offering vouchers worth up to £5,000 for properties not within R100 contract or commercial build plans – remains available. We are seeking to drive demand in a number of ways – sharing case studies and updates online; working with public sector partners, including local authorities, to raise awareness of the scheme locally; and liaising with suppliers registered to the scheme to encourage them to proactively identify opportunities for voucher-funded projects.

We also continue to urge the UK Government to ensure that their investment in Project Gigabit is targeted at the hardest-to-reach properties in Scotland, thus extending gigabit coverage even further into rural Scotland and eliminating the need for some of those properties to require a voucher at all.

The Scottish Government has invested in digital technologies within the cultural sector through direct funding, programmes and sponsorship of public bodies such as Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. Therefore, what follows is not an exhaustive list.

Digital technologies are vital to all businesses in realising their ambitions and supporting the growth of the Scottish economy. Through our Digital Development Grant and Digital Development Loan, £7.1 million of funding went directly to over 500 businesses that recorded themselves to be within the Culture sector over the last five years.

In March 2021, the Scottish Government launched the Creative Digital Initiative (CDI), a £1 million digital support programme for creative and cultural businesses. It was developed in partnership with Creative Scotland, the Enterprise agencies and Skills Development Scotland. CDI supported creative and cultural businesses to develop their digital capabilities, improve their digital skills in and enhance their creative opportunities as they responded to the challenges imposed by COVID-19.

During Covid-19, the Museums and Galleries Scotland Digital Resilience Fund supported adoption of digital technologies within the culture sector and was administered by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). This funding provided much needed support for the sector to support the purchase of equipment necessary to enable work from home and provision of digital access to museum collections and activity. It paid out £110,806 to 67 museums in 2020.

Digital and digital engagement is also a key area of work for Creative Scotland. An overview of projects funded with a focus on digital activity is compiled in their Annual Reviews. Creative Scotland is currently finalising the review for 2021-22 and it is due to be published shortly.

In 2020-21, Creative Scotland funded 188 projects with a focus on digital activity, with a total award of £5.2 million. This is an increase on 2019-20 – when 21 projects with a focus on digital activity were funded, to a total of £847,993.

In 2018-19, Creative Scotland funded 36 projects with a focus on digital activity, with a total of £935,471.

In 2017/18, Creative Scotland made 40 awards through our Open and Targeted Funding programmes to the value of £1.2 million, with one third of those focussed on work with children and young people using digital tools creatively.

These awards are a mix of both Scottish Government Grant in Aid funding and The National Lottery.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland. As Historic Environment Scotland’s spending on digital technology for the historic environment is an operational matter for them, I would invite the member to write to HES Chief Executives Office at [email protected] to request the information.