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Information regarding superfast broadband coverage in Scotland can be accessed on Ofcom’s website. Ofcom’s most recent figures, published in May 2023 , show that as of January 2023 the percentage of residential and commercial premises able to access superfast broadband (30 Megabits per second or above) in each local authority area in the Highlands and Islands region was as follows:

The Reaching 100% (R100) programme is ensuring that all homes and businesses can access superfast broadband. This is being delivered through three strands of activity – the £600 million R100 contracts (North, Central and South), our R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (R100 SBVS) and commercial coverage.

As of 31 May 2023 the Reaching 100% contracts have delivered to 24,194 premises. Of those premises, 20,666 were in rural and remote areas.

As of 01 July 2023 the R100 SBVS has delivered to 3,288 premises. Of those vouchers, 2,807 vouchers in remote and rural areas.

The R100 contracts do not have a targeted number of premises broken down at local authority level. However, as of 31 May 2023 the R100 North contract has delivered 6,897 connections which equates to 11.3% of the R100 North contract targeted figures. For the R100 Central contract 8,905 connections have been delivered which equates to 27.6% of the R100 Central contract targeted figures. For the R100 South contract, 8,392 connections have been delivered which equates to 38.3% of the R100 South contract targeted figures.

Additionally, as the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) is demand-led we do not have a targeted number of vouchers broken down at local authority level. However, as of 1 July 2023, a total of 3,288 connections have been delivered through utilisation of R100 SBVS vouchers.

While we do not have a targeted number of premises broken down at local authority level, and therefore cannot provide a percentage breakdown, we can provide details of the number of premises that have received a connection through the R100 contracts and the R100 SBVS at local authority level. Please see the following below for further information:

The Scottish Government recognises that good quality, affordable housing is essential to help attract and retain young families and young people in Scotland’s rural communities. We are committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 of which 10% will be in remote, rural and island areas.

We are funding up to £25 million over the next five years for local authorities to identify affordable homes for key workers in rural areas.

In Autumn, we will publish a Remote, Rural and Island Housing Action Plan to help attract and retain people in these communities.

The Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic contains a number of recommendations which sit within a wide range of business areas within the Scottish Government. The report was prepared by an independent group that took evidence from both public authorities and community groups. The recommendations are currently being allocated to separate Scottish Government business areas. These business areas will then discuss with relevant interests in order to consider what progress can be made.

The Scottish Government recognises that key infrastructure such as housing, transport, connectivity and employment can contribute to the survival of Scotland’s cultural heritage, particularly Gaelic speaking communities in areas of low population. The Scottish Government is also taking a number of steps to ensure the use of Gaelic increases and this includes promoting and supporting a wide range of initiatives and projects in a range of sectors in Scottish public life.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-19380 on 11 July 2023. 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

Scotland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan 2022-2025 has a priority action to protect and improve native woodland condition. The Scottish Government currently supports landowners, farmers, crofters and managers to bring native woodlands into positive management through the Forestry Grant Scheme. Support is also provided to help with preparing long-term forest plans for these woodlands, which is often the first step towards recovery. Engagement with private land managers is ongoing in order to encourage them to take up and make use of this available funding. Scottish Forestry has committed over £14 million since 2015, to help secure the sustainable management of native woodlands and associated habitats.

Further steps have recently been taken by the appointment of a Rainforest Action Co-ordinator to work with partners to develop a strategic approach to improve delivery of native rainforest expansion and restoration, and to develop a framework of public and private funding sources.

The statistics recently released show that last year Scotland created around 63% of all new woodland within the UK. Scotland has by far the most ambitious woodland creation targets in the UK and despite the challenges of Brexit, Covid and winter storms, landowners have created around 51,000 hectares of new woodland in the past five years or around 102 million trees.

To help meet future woodland creation targets the Scottish Government announced an action plan in June designed to speed up the woodland creation application process and encourage more landowners to get trees in the ground.

A Scottish Forestry Summit, with industry leaders and land management bodies, will be held later in the year to secure agreement on getting planting levels back on track.

As part of the package of new measures, Scottish Forestry will invest £1 million into training Scottish Forestry staff over the next two years to speed up the woodland creation application process. It will work closely with industry bodies and groups so that the training on developing and implementing woodland creation projects is expanded.

Scottish Forestry will also increase the level of support for smaller scale woodland projects, to help counter recent inflationary pressures and implement technical improvements and process enhancements to speed up applications.

The draft Long-term Plan for Vessels and Ports was developed in consultation with various stakeholders including local authorities and is a delivery plan for the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services networks. The draft Plan was shared with key stakeholders on 30 December 2022 and made available at Draft for consultation - Long-Term plan for vessels and ports on the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles networks (2023 – 2045) - Islands Connectivity Plan | Transport Scotland . We expect to launch a formal consultation on the plan over the summer period and we will welcome further comments from stakeholders during this time.

However, the draft Long-Term Plan recognises that local authority ferry fleets face similar challenges to those facing the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles Ferry Services networks.

Ferry services provided by Orkney Islands Council, including developing equivalent investment plans and spending on vessels and ports, are wholly a matter for Orkney Islands Council. The Scottish Government continues to engage regarding these matters, including through the Orkney Islands Councils' Ferry Replacement Task Forces.