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For the period 2007 to 2020 our records show the number of Scottish Dental Access Initiative (SDAI) Grants made by NHS Boards as follows:

Information on the number of dental students expected to graduate is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government makes a recommendation on intake targets each year for Scottish dental schools but we do not hold information on students’ progress towards graduation. However, dentistry generally has a high completion rate and NHS Education for Scotland forecast data predicts around 160 graduates will enter into dental vocational training in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The funding formula for the Local Government Settlements for local authorities in the Highlands and Islands recognises their need in relation to transport and includes allocations for this. It is, however, for individual local authorities to decide how to allocate the total financial resources available to them.

We do recognise the challenge for local authorities that have responsibility for ferries and have provided more than £136m over the last 5 years to support the running of these services. Orkney and Shetland Ferry Replacement Task Forces are in progress to look at processes for ferry replacement and potential solutions.

While vouchers issued through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) can be used to connect individual properties, the scheme was specifically designed to allow vouchers in a community to be combined to extend available funding. Indeed, there are a number of examples of communities across Scotland – including Ardnamurchan within your own region – pooling together vouchers to deliver superfast broadband connectivity to a number of properties.

We also remain actively engaged with all 32 Local Authorities to ensure they are fully aware of any developments around the R100 SBVS, as well as other elements of the wider R100 programme. We hold quarterly meetings with a network of Single Points of Contact, and we also maintain a data portal that all Local Authorities can access to identify and support voucher-eligible properties.

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.