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As per answer to S6W-09155 on 23 June 2022, gill netting is a legitimate form of fishing activity permitted within Scottish waters providing the relevant rules, regulations and technical standards are complied with.

We know that a number of gillnet vessels operate in Scottish waters and we understand that additional spatial pressure can occur when vessels using different types of gear are operating in close proximity to one another. The Future Catching Policy consultation, which closed for responses on 7 June, sought views on possible solutions to this and we welcome the input from all stakeholders to help shape next steps.

The Future Catching Policy is also intended to consider additional technical and spatial measures for all types of fishing vessels in order to reduce unwanted catches of fish and bycatch of sensitive marine species such as cetaceans. We are currently analysing the results from the consultation and considering policy options.

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 .

Gill netting is a legitimate form of fishing activity permitted within Scottish waters. As with all forms of sea fishing, gill net vessels must comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and technical standards, when carrying out their fishing operations. Furthermore, the retained EU regulation (EU) 2019/124(the Technical Conservation Regulation ) provides that vessels with an overall length of 12 metres or more, whilst using any bottom-set gill net in certain parts of Scottish waters must use an acoustic deterrent devices which should reduce cetacean bycatch.

We recognise that bycatch and entanglement in any type of fishing gear can pose a risk to our iconic marine life and we remain committed to tackling this issue in our waters. We support good practice by the fishing industry and are pleased to see the level of support from fishers to trial novel solutions to reduce marine animal entanglements. In some cases, additional measures may be required to reduce instances of entanglements and bycatch of other marine species including marine mammals and seabirds. We will consider this further as part of our development of the Future Catching Policy, using a co-management approach.

We take protection of the marine environment seriously and are clear that any form of dumping and other illegal activities are completely unacceptable. Legal obligations regarding the disposal of litter and fishing gear at sea are enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Marine Scotland Directorate officers can report illegal activity through an intelligence system to the MCA and vessels operating within Scottish waters are regularly reminded of their obligations under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Regulations. Vessels must also comply with Article 48 of the retained EU Regulation 1224/2009 (the Control Regulation ) which makes provision regarding the retrieval of lost gear.

NHS Grampian, like all boards, continues to see an increasing number of eligible cancer referrals and our priority is to ensure these patients receive cancer diagnosis and treatments safely and based on their clinical urgency.

We’re investing £40m over 5 years to support cancer services and improve cancer waiting times, with a focus on clearing any long waits and on the most challenged cancer pathways including urology, colorectal and breast.

Data published by PHS on 29 March 2022 shows that following a decision to treat, patients in NHS Grampian wait on average six days to begin their first definitive treatment for cancer. This may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatment.

Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with (a) ScotRail and (b) NHS Highland regarding how to ensure that people living outside of the Inverness area are able to travel to medical appointments by public transport without requiring an overnight stay.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08835 on 17 June 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

No formal consultation by (a) Transport Scotland and (b) ScotRail took place with (i) workers and (ii) unions before the temporary timetable was implemented. ScotRail utilised the time available to them, during this challenging period, to compile the temporary timetable which is aimed at providing the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources. The major determining factor is driver availability by rostered hours, location and with the necessary competencies, which fluctuates daily.

No assessment has been made if the impact on business revenues in the Highlands as a result of ScotRail’s temporary timetable.

We do recognise that the current temporary timetable is causing inconvenience and frustration to travellers, especially to people who need early and late services to get to and from work, and those sectors and businesses in the economy that depend on people being able to travel in the evenings. However, ScotRail conducted its formal review on 3 June and as a result, more services particularly in the evenings are now being added back into the timetable. In addition with the positive progress made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, it is to be hoped more services will be added back in the near future.

Developing specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health teams across every Health Board has been a priority since the start of the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board. Since 2019 we have invested over £5.5 million to establish specialist community perinatal mental health teams in every area of Scotland. This is in addition to investment in other specialist services such as infant mental health services and maternal and neonatal psychological interventions (MNPI).

To support Health Board areas to use this funding to develop local services, the Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network Scotland have developed a number of supporting resources. These include service development guides, care pathways and role descriptors.

We have also recruited a Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service Development Advisor to work closely with Boards to support them in their implementation of specialist services.

Finalising the establishment of specialist perinatal mental health provision across all Health Boards in Scotland is a priority for the final year of the Programme Board. Every NHS Board area has an Executive Lead driving forward the programme of work and both strategic and implementation groups are also in place.

The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) Inpatient Provision Consultation closed on 31 May 2022. While more detailed work on the outcomes of this consultation is underway, we are expecting NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley to enter into contractual agreements with a Mother and Baby Unit in line with the other territorial Health Boards.

The Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Programme Board and Perinatal Mental Health Managed Clinical Network Scotland will provide support to Boards in setting up these arrangements. We are in the process of meeting with MBU host Boards and NHS Forth Valley and NHS Grampian to discuss how to best ensure access for women and their infants.

Until these arrangements are in place, women residing within any Health Board area in Scotland are still able to access the specialist regional provision in a Mother and Baby Unit if clinically appropriate. Admission is based on clinical need rather than geography.