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The Scottish Government is aware of the shortage of drivers for buses, which is exacerbated by BREXIT preventing people from the EU coming here to work freely. We are working with bus operators and key industry stakeholders through the Bus Taskforce – while recognising that many of the levers are reserved to the UK Government.

Transport Scotland engages with all the train rolling stock companies on a regular basis to discuss the full range of fleet related topics including hydrogen powered trains.

ScotRail fleet reliability and cleanliness are operational matters for which ScotRail Trains Ltd is responsible. Details of how ScotRail is monitored for its Public Performance Measure (punctuality and reliability) and also how its stations and trains are monitored via Transport Scotland’s Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) can be found by accessing the following link:-

Performance & Reliability | Public Performance Monitoring | ScotRail

We are aware that there are ongoing challenges around staff recruitment and retention in the social work sector as a whole and more acutely in areas such as the Highlands and Islands.

We have introduced measures to address these challenges under the Improvement Plan that we have developed in collaboration with CoSLA and other key stakeholders.

The Improvement Plan addresses immediate and longer-term recruitment and retention challenges. It includes initiatives such as maintaining a Reserve List of social workers, reviewing pay disparities aligned with a framework that renumerates qualifications and experience, International recruitment and improving access to SW education.

Although, the Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities for social work through the general local government financial settlement. It is up to local authorities to decide how much resource is given to supporting the delivery of social work and social care services, as well as plan their workforce and ensure appropriate levels of staff are in place to provide social services for their residents.

Current proposals for the NCS will include the establishment of a National Social Work Agency (NSWA), which will enable a proactive approach to workforce planning at a national level. A national approach to workforce planning will facilitate to accurately model future demand for services, as well as the resources needed to meet that demand, for example by ensuring an adequate number of social work student placements are maintained.

The creation of the NSWA shows the Scottish Government is determined to address the significant pressures the social work sector faces from increasing workloads, staff shortages and the more complex needs of those they support.

Capacity is one of a number of factors taken into account when considering ferry services. As part of the Islands Connectivity Plan, the Long-term Plan for Vessels and Ports will set out the Scottish Government’s investment plans for both the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services. Engagement during development of the draft Long-term Plan indicated that reliability and resilience were the key priorities for vessel and port investment.

High Speed Trains are known to be popular with passengers. The Scottish Government has commissioned the Carmont Steering Group to make recommendations concerning the future of the High Speed Trains in Scotland.

The review has now been completed. The report is currently being finalised and will be published later in 2023.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18442 on 13 June 2023 . 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

Any considerations for HST replacement including timescales must take account of the conclusions of the Carmont Steering Group, and must be informed by the available budgets and the business case for change. The procurement of new rolling stock forms an integral part of Transport Scotland’s Decarbonisation Action Plan.

During the period of 2016 - 2022, 4.93% of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) claims have been subject to an on-farm inspection. During these inspections 2187 business have been found to be in breach of the terms of the scheme rules.