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The Scottish Government has not held specific discussions with taxi driver union representatives in Dundee to discuss loan funding for the purchase of electric vehicles in relation to compliance with the Low Emission Zone.

The Scottish Government provide annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST), an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency, which delivers a range of schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers, including the Switched-on Taxi loan.

EST on behalf of Scottish Ministers has engaged directly with taxi owners and operators. This includes providing impartial and independent advice including information on the Switched-on Taxi loan, and vehicle reports comparing running costs of petrol/diesel taxis with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. Last year EST ran several taxi forums bringing together taxi owners/operators and licensing authorities to discuss best practice approaches to decarbonisation across the industry.

The reporter anticipates, at this stage, submitting her report and recommendations on this case in the Summer. Full case details are available to view on the Department for Planning and Environmental Appeal’s (DPEA) website at:- Scottish Government - DPEA - Case Details (scotland.gov.uk)

ScotRail submits complaints data to the rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). This data is published quarterly on the ORR website and can be obtained via the following link:-

Passenger rail service complaints | ORR Data Portal

Delivery partners are responsible for awareness raising and promotion of Scottish employability services, and use a variety of channels for this including social media. The Scottish Government’s Employability social media promotional activity to date has not used the TikTok platform.

Highland Council-run services between the Ardnamurchan peninsula and Corran have been cancelled for at least seven weeks as two vessels are repaired. The implementation of any temporary replacement service is a matter for the local authority.

The Scottish Government understands that in addition to the alternative foot passenger routes in place, significant work has taken place to improve road safety measures for vehicles using the detour along the A861. We understand that 24-hour works have been ongoing on the A861 and since the start of these arrangements a number of additional passing places have been introduced and extended, as well as improvements to drainage, patching works and use of roadside recovery where required. Further information on mitigations taken by the local authority can be found here .

The Scottish Government continues to engage with the Council on this important issue and the Minister for Transport met with the Council on 26 April. We understand that the expected return to service of the MV Corran remains early June.

Furthermore, the Scottish Government recognises the challenge for local authorities, including The Highland Council, that have responsibility for ferries, and have provided more than £136m over the last 5 years to support the running of these services.

Highland Council is currently working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to explore options for military support. Once those discussions are complete, it will be for Highland Council to decide whether to proceed with a request for Military Aid to the Civil Authority (MACA)), at which point it would request support in processing from the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Directorates and Departments do not submit requests directly to the MoD. Applications are submitted through the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The Scottish Government is able to assist with this process, and the First Minister would consider whether to support any requests received.

The Scottish Government understands that the MoD was on site on 20 and 21 April to undertake an assessment of its capability to assist. The Scottish Government further understands that the Council has received a report from the MoD and this is being reviewed by the Council to determine what action, if any, can be taken as a consequence of the MOD’s findings.

NHS Scotland patients requiring transvaginal mesh removal surgery may opt either to have that surgery carried out by the specialist service provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, by an NHS England specialist centre, or by one of two independent providers. 23 removal surgeries were carried out by the Glasgow specialist service in 2020-21, 23 in 2021-22, and 34 in 2022-23. Meanwhile, as noted in response to S6W-17504 on 11 May 2023, 13 women have had removal surgery carried out by one of the two independent providers. None have opted for referral to an NHS England centre. 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 .

It is crucial that we prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms, but that aim has to be balanced with careful consideration of the impact restrictions may have on business.

We will not work with the alcohol industry on the development of health policy but will continue to engage with them around potential impacts of, and implementation, of alcohol harm prevention policy.

Monthly statistics on the number of Council Tax Reduction recipients since the scheme’s commencement in April 2013 are available at Council Tax Reduction: local authority tables and charts - April 2013 to February 2023 - (www.gov.scot) . March 2023 data will be published on 16 May 2023.

Prior to April 2013, the UK Government was responsible for Council Tax Benefit with associated data available at Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit statistics - (www.gov.uk) .

The Scottish Government provides annual funding to Energy Saving Trust (EST) an independent organisation working to address the climate emergency, to provide a range of services including delivery of the Switched-on Taxi Loan on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

The Switched-on Taxi loan provides an interest-free loan with a repayment term of up to 6 years to support both private and hackney taxi owners and operators with the purchase of zero and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Since 2019 taxi drivers and operators in the North East of Scotland electoral region have received interest free loans worth almost £800,000. Currently the Switched-on Taxi loan is closed and Scottish Ministers are considering the position for the current financial year. Taxi drivers and operators can register their interest with Energy Saving Trust should future rounds of funding become available.