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The Council Tax Reduction Scheme assists low income households in meeting their Council Tax liabilities but is not part of either the devolved or the UK Government Social Security systems.

The board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been clear that they first need to take full account of the recommendations of the National Review of Maternity and Neonatal Services, which was published on 20 January. Should the Board then wish to pursue the same proposals that were designated as major in December 2016, they must be subject to formal public consultation and, ultimately, Ministerial approval.

Given the formal role that Ministers have in the major service change process, it would be inappropriate for me to accept an invitation to meet with campaigners until the consultation period is complete. I have, however, been clear that I'd be happy to meet with local campaigners and their representatives to help inform my final decision on any proposals that may come to me, once the formal consultation period has concluded.

As we have made clear since acquiring the airport in 2013, it is the Scottish Government’s intention to return the airport to the private sector when the time is right. No timescale has been set.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport operates on a wholly commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. Details of commercial contracts – including end dates – are commercially sensitive.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport published their Strategic Vision in October 2014. This built upon a business plan that was developed by a senior adviser and included as much of his work as possible without impinging on commercial confidentiality and the airport’s ability to operate commercially. Glasgow Prestwick Airport is finalising a new 5 year Strategic Plan for 2017 – 2022 now and this will be published shortly.

The overall aim set out in the Strategic Vision published in October 2014 was to operate the airport in a safe, cost-effective and efficient manner and to develop and enhance its variety of business interests in order to return it to profitability, with the long-term intention of returning it to the private sector.

Prestwick Airport is a non-typical airport where success is not predicated on passenger traffic or any one business area alone. There are a number of opportunities for the airport’s management team to build on, including increasing freight and passenger traffic, fixed base operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul, property and it is very well placed to provide world class facilities for the UK Spaceport program.

Yes. These accounts were also laid before Parliament and are available on the Prestwick Airport website.

The budget for 2016-17 approves loan support of £9.3 million for Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The draft budget for 2017-18 allocates loan support of £9.4 million.

We plan to approve the amount of loan funding required in future years through the approval of the airport’s business plan for that year.

The Scottish Government budgeted £25.2 million in loan support to the end of March 2016 for Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

We have made it clear throughout the process that additional loan funding, beyond that initially set out, may be required to turn the business around and return it to the private sector.

Any repair work or potential upgrades to Prestwick Station are the responsibility of the owner, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, who operate on a wholly commercial basis.

The following table provides the number of Ryanair scheduled flights by month until October 2017. The schedule for winter 2017-18 has yet to be confirmed.

These figures are subject to change.