Written questions by Gethins.

What was the total expenditure on press and communications, including staffing costs, for financial year 2024/5, and for 2026 for the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The total expenditure on press and communications, including staffing costs, for financial year 2024/25 was £1.944m. Departmental spend on communications staff for financial year 2024-25 was £1.744m, including all on-costs such as pension contributions, national insurance and VAT. The total Communications budget for the financial year 2025-26 is £1.949m.

What was the expenditure on paid-for social media advertising and promotion, such as on Facebook and X for financial year 2024/5 and the budget for 2026 for the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

In the financial year 2024-25, the total amount spent on social media advertising and promotion was £2,806. The social media marketing budget for the financial year 2025-26 was £10,000.

What was the expenditure on advertising for financial year 2024/5 and what is the budget for 2026 for the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Department has spent the following on advertising: Financial YearAdvertising £’0002024-2550, 277.07 Please note, budgets for financial year 2026-27 will be agreed at the beginning of the next financial year.

How many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications job posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.

The Scotland Office communications team currently has 16 posts, carrying out a wide range of communication functions.There are currently five press/media posts. PostsCivil Service Salary Band (Government Communication Service Bands)Head of Communications/ Head of DigitalSCS1Press and MediaGrade 6, Grade 7, Grade 7, EO, EODigitalSEO, SEO, EOStrategic Engagement/ Visits and EventsGrade 6, SEO, SEO, SEO, HEO, HEO, EO

Whether funding will be made available to devolved Governments under the Barnett formula from the NHS England Ten Year Plan.

The UK Government announced last month that the Scottish Government will receive an extra £9.1 billion in funding following the Chancellor's Spending Review. This includes £5.8 billion in health-related Barnett consequentials.Funding for devolved health services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is determined independently through the Barnett formula. While the UK Government’s NHS England Ten Year Plan does not directly allocate funds to devolved Governments, the Barnett formula ensures that funding remains consistent with respective devolved budgets.The devolved Governments retain responsibility for the management and delivery of health services within their jurisdictions.

What estimate he has made of the potential impact of a reduction in spending on asylum would have on the Scottish Government's block grant.

Phase 2 of the Spending Review confirmed that devolved expenditure by the UK Government on Justice and Home Affairs will generate £451 million of additional Barnett funding for the Scottish Government over 2026/27-2029/30. The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnett consequentials over that time period.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill on the Scottish Government's block grant.

Universal Credit is a reserved matter, while in Scotland Adult Disability Payment, a devolved benefit, replaced Personal Independence Payments. This Government will deliver the first permanent, above-inflation rise in the Universal Credit standard allowance since the 1970s, meaning nearly 4 million households will receive an income boost worth £725 by 2029/30 for a single household 25 or over. Individual block grant adjustments linked to individual policy decisions will be published in due course. The Spending Review set a three year envelope and guarantees that the block grant will be at least £52 billion by 2029, with an additional £9.1 billion in Barnett consequentials over that time period.

How many civil servants in his Department are employed in (a) Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, (b) Dover House on Whitehall and (c) other locations in London.

As at 31 March 2025, the Scotland Office had 47 civil servants based at Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh and 38 civil servants based at Dover House, Whitehall, London. The Office does not have civil servants based at any other locations.

With reference to paragraph 2.28 of the Office of Budget Responsibility's publication entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in October 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in overall trade intensity on Scotland.

In its latest economic outlook, the OBR expects the level of overall exports to recover in 2025 and return to growth over the period 2026 to 2029. The European Union is an important trade partner for the UK, with total trade in goods and services of £813 billion in 2024. A closer, more co-operative relationship with the EU is in the UK’s national interests and the Prime Minister and President of the European Commission have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the UK and EU. The UK-EU Summit on 19 May will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, such as trade and the economy.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on incentivising migrants to work in key industries in Scotland.

We are taking a joined up-approach across government, linking migration policy and visa controls to skills and labour market policies – so immigration is not used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems here at home. We value the important contribution made by workers from overseas, but we need to consider issues in the round, and work with industries to ensure they can attract the workforces they need for the future. To achieve this we are strengthening the Migration Advisory Committee, and establishing a framework for joint working with skills bodies across the UK, the Industrial Strategy Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on incentivising migrants to work in key industries in Scotland.

I have had frequent discussions with the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and have been clear that immigration should not be used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems here at home. We value the important contribution made by workers from overseas, but we need to consider issues in the round, and work with industries to ensure they can attract the workforces they need for the future. To achieve this we are strengthening the Migration Advisory Committee, and establishing a framework for joint working with skills bodies across the UK, the Industrial Strategy Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.