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The Scottish Government remain committed to pursuing a sustainable future for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd. Any lease of facilities would be a commercial decision for the yard and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to make any such instruction.

The Chief Dental Officer and a Deputy Chief Dental Officer met with Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and Director of Defence Health, Dave Mcloughlin earlier this year. Consequently, the Chief Dental Officer and AVM McLoughlin issued a joint letter to all dental teams on 22 February 2024.

Careful consideration was given to the most efficient phasing of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme. This resulted in the current split with seven similar vessels procured in the first phase.

Phase two of the programme takes in other routes in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network where the service requirements differ from the seven vessels in phase one, including routes where specific requirements need to be addressed. CMAL will be commencing with studies and engagement on these vessels later this year.

CMAL, as the procuring authority, has highlighted that Scottish public procurement regulations explicitly state that contracting authorities cannot artificially narrow competition by designing a procurement with the intention of unduly favouring, or disadvantaging, any particular economic operator. This means that CMAL cannot lawfully weight or design the contract requirements to favour Scottish shipyards or businesses. All candidates must be treated equally and fairly.

All Scottish Ministers routinely use electronic boxes (‘e-boxes’) for ministerial business. Cabinet Folders are issued to Cabinet Secretaries on appointment.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans living in Scotland, as well as their families, are able to access the best possible care and support, enjoy their rights on an equal basis to others, and are able to participate fully and lead their own lives.

The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments in circumstances where a disabled person is placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled people. That requirement covers changing the way things are done such as making changes to the built environment and providing auxiliary aids and services. The Scottish Government expects all relevant organisations to comply with the requirements of the 2010 Act and with the relevant codes of practice and other guidance published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report by Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Enhancing Accessibility: Venues and Visual Impairment and would encourage venues across Scotland to consider implementing the recommendations within the report, and using the checklist and top tips provided, to create a more accessible and inclusive experience for all.

The Scottish Government provide funding to veterans organisations primarily through the Scottish Veterans Fund and the Veterans Scotland Grant usually totalling c.£590,000 per year. We also continue to provide funding to the Unforgotten Forces Consortium totalling £950,000 from 2023-2026.

The Scottish Government has now delivered all the bus powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local transport authorities to consider all the powers available to them, including partnership working, franchising and local authority run services which sits alongside their ability to subsidise services. Further regulations will be laid throughout 2024, which will give the partnership and franchising powers full effect.

Alongside the outstanding legislation, the Scottish Government will publish its statutory guidance on bus franchising powers before the end of 2024. It will also publish statutory guidance on Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (BSIPs) before the end of 2024.

The Scottish Government notes the UK Government’s plans in the King’s Speech to remove barriers that currently limit bus franchising powers in England only to metro mayors. We will review the new UK Government’s proposals in relation to franchising in England when the Better Buses Bill is published.

In Scotland, all local transport authorities have the powers to commence the franchising process. The Scottish model includes an independent panel to consider proposed franchising frameworks, which was approved by the Scottish Parliament as part of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. To ensure transparency, the panel will consider whether the local transport authority adhered to the franchising process, had regard to the statutory guidance which will be issued by the Scottish Ministers, given appropriate weight to matters prescribed by Scottish Ministers, and reached a reasonable conclusion in deciding to make their proposed franchising framework.

Development of a national pilot scheme to provide travel support for people seeking asylum and not currently eligible for the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes is ongoing. Further information will be published on the Scottish Government website and provided to third sector organisations as preparations for the pilot to open are made.

The development of the national pilot scheme is building on useful learning from the small scale local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. These projects include the Grampian Regional Equality Council Report on the free bus travel project in Aberdeen, the Travel Choices Project Report by the Refugee Survival Trust and the Friends of Scottish Settlers project in Falkirk.

Representatives of these and other Third Sector organisations are members of the Working Group and are providing valuable advice and knowledge in the development of the national pilot.