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There is a long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) in these islands. This allows for free movement between the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for citizens of those territories. The Scottish Government is committed to the protection of the CTA and the associated reciprocal rights for British, Irish and Scottish citizens after independence. Maintenance of the CTA would mean that there would be no new passport or immigration checks at any of an independent Scotland’s land, sea of air border points with the UK and Ireland and British, Irish and Scottish citizens would have the right to move freely within the CTA.

Further information can be found in Building a New Scotland: citizenship in an independent Scotland - gov.scot.

Requirements for border staff will be subject to the trade arrangements agreed between the EU and the UK at the time, and negotiations following independence.

As detailed in Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) an independent Scotland could draw from best practice around the world, seeking to agree and develop the form of border that works best for our circumstances and needs and those of our partners in the EU and in the rest of the UK.

Scotland already has infrastructure and processes in place to operate its current border, including, for example, customs processes at airports, and Trading Standards Officers who may check at the point of sale that non-compliant goods are not being placed on the market.

While Improving Public Access (IPA) is not currently included in Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) or Tier 3 of the Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP), the historical impact of the scheme is acknowledged, with over £12 million committed to 181 contracts between 2015 and 2022. No final decision has yet been taken regarding the future of IPA grants or their inclusion within the new Tier 3 of ARP. The design of the future rural support framework is still ongoing, and while the focus of Tier 3 will be on delivering the outcomes set out in the Vision for Agriculture, this does not preclude consideration of how access improvements might be supported through alternative mechanisms.

Tariffs for any new member of the World Trade Organization are a matter for negotiation with existing WTO member countries. The Scottish Government has held no discussions of this kind.

Building a New Scotland: A stronger economy with independence (October 2022) provides details on trade with the rest of the UK following Independence.

The nature of the border between an independent Scotland as an EU member state and the UK will depend on negotiations between the UK Government and the EU. For example, the UK and EU are currently negotiating an SPS Agreement which would reduce border checks.

The Scottish Government is committed to providing people with what independence would mean for them. As a result, we have now published thirteen papers in Building a new Scotland series, with a final overview paper to follow in due course.

For additional information I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-37999 on 25 June. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and in December we made further progress by publishing draft Orders for the long-term solution and also for future phases of the medium-term solution to provide an improved diversionary route along the Old Military Road. Publication of draft Orders marks the start of the statutory authorisation process.

Transport Scotland carries out a rigorous assessment process to establish the preferred option for a trunk road improvement, like improvements to the A83. The three-stage assessment process, based on standards and good practice set by the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), covers environmental, engineering, traffic and economics.

Public engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders is also at the heart of the development and delivery of our projects.

Following the detailed assessment of the options under consideration, including the Green Option, the preferred route option for the long-term solution to the landslide challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful, a 1.4km long debris flow shelter along the route of the existing A83, was announced in June 2023. This option will reduce the impact of disruption for travel to, from and between Argyll and Bute and the central belt of Scotland, had the greatest potential to be delivered quickly, was the most favourable across a broad range of environmental criteria and had the greatest opportunity to encourage active travel.

It should also be noted that the latest estimated cost for the preferred debris flow shelter option is £409 million to £510 million at 2024 prices; while the estimated cost of the Green Option as assessed during the route options assessment process was £821 million to £932 million at 2023 prices, significantly more than the debris flow shelter preferred option.

Further detail on the assessment work undertaken during the route options assessment process is set out in the DMRB Stage 2 Route Options Assessment Report, a copy of which is available on the Transport Scotland website (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) stage two route options assessment report - A83 Access to Argyll and Bute | Transport Scotland).

Transport Scotland continues to progress the preferred option through the statutory authorisation process. Revisiting the route options assessment process would introduce significant delay to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Under the Fiscal Framework with the UK Government, the Block Grant Adjustment for Social Security will be increased to reflect the costs related to the UK Government's changes to eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales. The Scottish Government recently announced it will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. The exact increase will be confirmed by the OBR in due course and is therefore subject to change, however this is estimated to be around £120 million. The Scottish Government does not therefore receive Barnett Consequentials for this change.

The Annual Participation Measure is published by Skills Development Scotland and uses the following classifications:

Local Government have the statutory responsibility for education so this information is not held centrally.