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A further £6.6 million of Project Gigabit funding is being invested in the R100 South contract to reach an additional 1,149 properties. This includes 433 properties in the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area. The online checker at www.scotlandsuperfast.com has been updated to reflect the remodelled build plan.

Since May 2022, the Sustainable and Active Travel Team has held 104 strategic conversations with local authorities on the promotion of active travel. These were primarily in relation to their Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes active travel infrastructure grant funding, and engagement with the Transformation Programme, and were mostly scheduled in advance.

The team has also had a further 12 discussions on infrastructure, behaviour change and free bikes with CoSLA and the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS). Other Transport Scotland teams including Rail, Bus Partnership Fund, and Canals have held additional project specific discussions, although we have been unable to quantify these.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11825 on 9 November 2022. 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 .

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), the Scottish Government’s dedicated economic agency for the South of Scotland, has had the most recent discussions with Hinduja Global Solutions about its fair work practices, including wages and terms and conditions. These discussions formed part of the work to secure a SOSE grant to support the creation of up to 250 jobs.

SOSE advised in discussions with Hinduja Global Solutions that organisations supported through grant funding would be committing to adopting Fair Work First in the delivery of projects which are funded by SOSE. The terms of grant award included such reference of committing to working on becoming a Fair Work employer, plus working towards achieving the Fair Work First criteria including:

• appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition.
• investment in workforce development.
• no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts.
• action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
• payment of the real Living Wage.
• offering flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of their employment; and
• opposing the use of fire and rehire practices.

Hinduja Global Solutions is also required to work with SOSE, Skills Development Scotland, education and training organisations and/or institutions to recruit “disadvantaged workers” and long-term youth unemployed, and from areas of multiple deprivation.

Prior to the formation of SOSE, Scottish Enterprise (SE) worked with Hinduja Global Solutions to support new inward investment opportunities, and as with all companies it works with, SE encouraged progressive working practices in its discussions with the company.

The Scottish Government remains committed to eliminating HIV Transmission in Scotland by 2030.

To support work to meet this target the PrEP short-life working group, a sub-group of the HIV Transmission Elimination Oversight Group, was tasked with maximising PrEP eligibility criteria. The group has formally adopted the new, wider, PrEP eligibility guidelines and are now working on materials to support implementation across Scotland.

The group, which is jointly chaired by community sector and clinical representatives, has also been actively considering the expansion of PrEP prescribing, with a focus on moving away from acute settings such as sexual health clinics. These discussions are on-going as the group considers different models and settings for PrEP care.

The Scottish Government is committed to eliminating HIV Transmission in Scotland by 2030.

There are no current plans for a testing week in 2022. However, the Scottish Government commissioned an expert-led HIV transmission elimination proposal. Increased and more effective testing is an important focus of the report, which will be published on World AIDS Day. Plans to take that work forward will be published alongside it, and that work will consider both long and short term steps that can be taken to improve testing uptake.

In the meantime, the Scottish Government continues to provide funding to HIV Scotland to support hivtest.scot, a pilot project which provides postal HIV self-testing kits to people across Scotland.

Rail accessibility and compliance with rail fleet accessibility requirements remain matters reserved to the UK Government.

I have however recently met with Disabled Persons Organisations, such as Disability Equality Scotland and Sight Scotland & Sight Scotland Veterans to gain an understanding of any issues being experienced by disabled rail users. Those issues will be taken forward during my monthly scheduled meetings with Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail Trains Ltd to consider and address.

Whilst I have not met with the Hunterston B nuclear power station director, either in person or virtually, since taking up the post of Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport in May 2021, I did meet with Matt Sykes, the Managing Director for EDF Generation in December 2021.

The discussion focussed on various issues pertaining to EDF Generation, EDF Renewables and their role in supporting Scotland on the road to Net Zero. This included the closure of Hunterston B, which ceased electricity generation in January 2022 with the plant currently being decommissioned.

We continue to progress the preparation stages on the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme with a view to completing the statutory process. This includes the significant work required to prepare for publication of made Orders, including the Compulsory Purchase Order, in the coming weeks. Subject to no legal challenge being received, the Scottish Ministers will then have the relevant powers to acquire the land necessary to construct the scheme.

Delivery of the scheme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for progress can be set in line with available budgets. It is not possible to set a firm programme for delivery of the scheme until statutory consents are completed.

The Scottish Government has used the powers at its disposal to build a fairer and more progressive Income Tax system in Scotland that raises vital additional revenue for the Scottish Budget. This has helped us commit to investing £2 billion for climate action in the 2022-23 Budget, alongside a clear commitment in the Resource Spending Review to prioritise public spend to deliver climate action over the course of this parliament.

We are committed to working across society to deliver lasting action that secures a just transition to a climate resilient, net zero Scotland - one that delivers on our social, economic and climate goals to build a better and more equal Scotland. Our Framework for Tax, published in December 2021, sets out our goals for a fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland for everyone. Amongst other strategic aims, the Scottish Government has committed to use the tax levers at our disposal to deliver a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery and support new, good green jobs, businesses and industries for the future.

Decisions on tax policy for 2023-24 will be set out in the Scottish Budget, which will take place on 15 December. We will reflect on the recommendations in this report, alongside engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, in setting our tax policy for the year ahead.