Written questions by McDougall.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that Scotland benefits from nuclear energy developments in the UK.

Nuclear energy creates well-paid jobs and develops vital transferable skills. Investment in new nuclear power stations brings billions of pounds into local communities. It is good for the environment and good for national energy security.So, what do the SNP say to all that? No thank you! But of course, they are happy to accept Scotland’s energy baseload coming from English nuclear power.Their outdated, ideological opposition is holding Scotland back.

What steps he plans to take to improve broadband access and connection speed in rural Scotland.

Digital connectivity is key to delivering our priority mission of growing the economy. Building Digital UK continues to work with the Scottish Government on the delivery of Project Gigabit procurements across Scotland. Project Gigabit procurements are targeted at the remaining premises that are not expected to receive a gigabit-capable connection as part of a suppliers’ commercial rollout, or any other subsidised delivery in Scotland. The Scottish Government launched the first two Project Gigabit procurements in Scotland in May 2024, in the Borders and East Lothian area and in the Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Angus, and Moray Coast areas. Further local and regional procurements are expected to launch in phases throughout the rest of 2024, including Shetland and Orkney, Fife and Perth & Kinross and Dumfries & Galloway. The remainder of Central and North Scotland will be included in a procurement under the cross-regional framework which has been awarded to Openreach.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to help tackle far-right extremism in Scotland.

The past weeks have been frightening for many of our communities in Scotland, in particular for Muslims. I will never forget hearing from a young woman who has asked to work from home indefinitely because she is so afraid to be in a city centre, in Scotland, in 2024, wearing the hijab. That is intolerable and cannot - and will not - be accepted.So I do not share the complacency of some that Scotland has no issues around racism and Islamophobia to address.The UK Government and Scotland Office are determined to play our part in defeating hate. I am grateful to the civil society and voluntary organisations throughout our communities whose efforts are so vital in supporting that endeavour, and to Police Scotland for their work in keeping us safe.While I am confident that the true values of this country are best reflected by millions of decent, law abiding people who cherish our neighbours and will not be divided, we must acknowledge that mosques, synagogues and other buildings used by a range of faith communities in Scotland have had to take advantage of Home Office funding for security. Their need to do so shames us all and we will not rest until those responsible for violent disorder are brought to justice and everyone, of every faith and background, feels equally safe.This government will continue to promote unity and solidarity across the diverse communities that so enrich life in Scotland and the United Kingdom and bring to justice all those engaged in thuggery and violent disorder.