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The Scottish Government remain committed to pursuing a sustainable future for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd. Any lease of facilities would be a commercial decision for the yard and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Government to make any such instruction.

The Scottish National Investment Bank is guided by the missions set for it by Scottish Ministers but it is operationally independent and makes investment decisions in line with its own investment processes and strategy.

The Bank’s investments are also designed to fill gaps in the supply of capital available to businesses and at the same time to crowd in private capital to create a thriving ecosystem of investors active in Scotland.

The Chief Dental Officer and a Deputy Chief Dental Officer met with Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and Director of Defence Health, Dave Mcloughlin earlier this year. Consequently, the Chief Dental Officer and AVM McLoughlin issued a joint letter to all dental teams on 22 February 2024.

CMAL, as the procuring authority, has highlighted that Scottish public procurement regulations explicitly state that contracting authorities cannot artificially narrow competition by designing a procurement with the intention of unduly favouring, or disadvantaging, any particular economic operator. This means that CMAL cannot lawfully weight or design the contract requirements to favour Scottish shipyards or businesses. All candidates must be treated equally and fairly.

Careful consideration was given to the most efficient phasing of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme. This resulted in the current split with seven similar vessels procured in the first phase.

Phase two of the programme takes in other routes in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network where the service requirements differ from the seven vessels in phase one, including routes where specific requirements need to be addressed. CMAL will be commencing with studies and engagement on these vessels later this year.

All Scottish Ministers routinely use electronic boxes (‘e-boxes’) for ministerial business. Cabinet Folders are issued to Cabinet Secretaries on appointment.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans living in Scotland, as well as their families, are able to access the best possible care and support, enjoy their rights on an equal basis to others, and are able to participate fully and lead their own lives.

The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments in circumstances where a disabled person is placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with non-disabled people. That requirement covers changing the way things are done such as making changes to the built environment and providing auxiliary aids and services. The Scottish Government expects all relevant organisations to comply with the requirements of the 2010 Act and with the relevant codes of practice and other guidance published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The Scottish Government welcomes the report by Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Enhancing Accessibility: Venues and Visual Impairment and would encourage venues across Scotland to consider implementing the recommendations within the report, and using the checklist and top tips provided, to create a more accessible and inclusive experience for all.

The Scottish Government provide funding to veterans organisations primarily through the Scottish Veterans Fund and the Veterans Scotland Grant usually totalling c.£590,000 per year. We also continue to provide funding to the Unforgotten Forces Consortium totalling £950,000 from 2023-2026.

There is no legislation that specifically prevents the installation of netting around buildings. However, Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Scotland) Act 1981 does make it an offence to obstruct or prevent any bird from using its nest during the nesting season and this would include the use of bird-dissuading mesh.

The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce standards for the use of bird-dissuading mesh.

NatureScot have published advice which outlines that all exclusion measures [including netting] must be appropriately maintained to avoid welfare issues such as entanglement: Guidance - gull management | NatureScot .

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have a leaflet on bird netting which recommends that netting is checked regularly for both trapped birds and to ensure that it is in good repair : Wild birds and netting.pdf (rspca.org.uk)

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds also recommends that exclusion nets, on both buildings and elsewhere should be checked at least daily, and any trapped birds or other wildlife should be released immediately: The use of netting to stop birds nesting - what you need to know (rspb.org.uk)

The development of the national pilot scheme is building on useful learning from the small scale local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. These projects include the Grampian Regional Equality Council Report on the free bus travel project in Aberdeen, the Travel Choices Project Report by the Refugee Survival Trust and the Friends of Scottish Settlers project in Falkirk.

Representatives of these and other Third Sector organisations are members of the Working Group and are providing valuable advice and knowledge in the development of the national pilot.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. There is no requirement for those using bird-dissuading mesh to submit information on how many birds have been trapped and have died.