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The Scottish Government paid 200,000 in January 2015 to DFDS, in support of the company’s operation of the Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight ferry service. The Scottish Government is committed to securing the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service on an environmentally and economically sustainable basis. We strongly believe this is in the best interests of the freight industry and businesses.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03158 on 7 October 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

To continue to participate in the EU health initiatives post-Brexit, which extend to European Economic Area countries, Scotland must remain a member of the single market. The Scottish Government will do everything in its power to retain its membership of the single market and the considerable benefits this brings.

The Scottish Government does not charter the Seatruck vessels MV Hildasay and MV Helliar – these vessels are chartered by Serco Northlink Ferries.

The Scottish Government is working to avoid a situation where Scottish projects lose out on support from the WiFi4EU initiative. As the associated funding will be available from 2017, there is likely to be a window of opportunity for Scottish projects to benefit.

The EC initiative mirrors our Public Wireless Programme, which seeks to ensure publicly accessible buildings and spaces provide freely accessible wireless broadband. The Programme aims to ensure any wireless broadband solutions are sustainable and are designed to meet local needs.

EU funding contracts that are agreed before the UK proposes to leave the EU will be paid in full. This guarantee covers the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

The Scottish Government recognises that uncertainty has been created as a result of the EU referendum outcome, including on exports, and farm incomes where EU funding is an important factor. That is why my Ministerial colleagues and I have all pressed the UK Government on various fronts following the EU referendum on the issue of continuity of funding for the vitally important industries that rely on EU funds. We now have guarantees for CAP Pillar 1 until 2020, and for CAP Pillar 2 funding agreements that are entered into in the period between now and the point that the UK proposes to leave the EU. Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution has confirmed that these guarantees are being passed on in full to Scottish stakeholders on EU funding.

Further to this, the Scottish Government has commissioned the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) to undertake economic modelling on the potential impact of different trade and farm payment scenarios on Scottish agriculture. I expect findings will be available early next year and will add to the existing evidence base that includes a number of published studies on the impact of Brexit on UK farming sectors.

The Scottish Government does not provide immigration advice. Immigration advice is available from immigration advisers regulated by and under the supervision of the immigration advice regulator (OISC). A list of registered immigration advisors registered with the OISC on their website: http://home.oisc.gov.uk/adviser_finder/finder.aspx. Immigration guidance and support is available from Scottish Enterprise (since April 2013) through the TalentScotland project funded by the Scottish Government.

Evidence published by the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee based on analysis by the Fraser of Allander Institute confirms the risks that leaving the EU poses to Scotland’s economy.

The analysis forecasts that GDP could be more than 5% (£8 billion in 2015-16 terms) lower than would otherwise be the case after 10 years. The report also indicates that exports could be more than 11% lower, and that there could be 80,000 fewer jobs, compared to a scenario where the UK remains a member of the EU.

The Scottish Government recognises that agriculture is one of the mainstays of Scotland's rural economy and that the CAP plays an important role in helping farmers stabilise their incomes.

Our vision for the future is an agriculture industry in Scotland that is innovative, profitable, sustainable and supporting economic growth. We will work closely with industry to develop the next steps to help realise that vision, and this will help inform our deliberations on what future support measures may be appropriate for the industry.

The Scottish Government assures EU and non-EU citizens working in Scotland that we want them here, we value their contribution, and we will be doing everything we can to make sure they can continue with us without detriment.

Information on how many NHS staff are Scottish, non-EU and EU citizens is not held centrally. We have previously estimated on the basis of information from ONS that around 5% of the NHS Scotland workforce are from the rest of the EU. However a SPICE Briefing paper published (via ONS) on 3rd November 2016 ‘EU Nationals living in Scotland’, available at the link below http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/101937.aspx records that the health and social work sector in Scotland employs 12,000 EU nationals, accounting for 3% of total employment in this sector.