Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-04283 on 10 November 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

The most recent update on the estimated final cost of the refurbishment of the SFRS control room in Dundee was received in March 2016.

(a) – The estimated capital cost for the Dundee control room option, as outlined in the SFRS Board paper, Fire Control - Options Appraisal for Final Locations, published in January 2014, was £2.192m. This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at www.firescotland.gov.uk

(b) – The estimated capital cost for the Dundee control room option, as outlined in the SFRS Board paper, Dundee Control, published in July 2015, was £1.96m. This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at www.firescotland.gov.uk

Derek Mackay, Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary has announced that he will be passing on the UK Government’s guarantee on European funding in full. Following the Chancellor’s statement on 3 October, that guarantee now extends to all projects formally approved prior to the UK leaving the EU. The £20 million of ERDF for digital connectivity in the Highlands and Islands is being assessed for approval by the end of this year, and is therefore expected to be covered in full by the guarantee.

5G is the next generation of mobile technology which is currently being developed by the mobile industry - on a global basis - and which is expected to be rolled out commercially by the mobile operators in the UK from around 2020. A key aim of our World Class digital infrastructure policy development is to ensure that Scotland has the underlying connectivity infrastructure that can support the future evolution of digital technologies such as 5G. The implications of Brexit on the mobile operators' investment plans for Scotland are not yet known.

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 will negotiate with the UK Government to ensure that future support for agriculture and rural development is allocated on a fair and equitable basis across the UK.

No. Should the UK Government take the decision not to opt in to Regulation (EU) 2016/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the UK's membership of Europol would cease from 1 May 2017. At that point Police Scotland would no longer be able to benefit from the significant support and resources available through Europol membership which could impact on ongoing live operations.

The UK Government has recently revised its position on EU funding guarantees to cover in full the payment of all EU funding contracts for SRDP projects that are entered into before the UK proposes to leave the EU. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution has confirmed that these guarantees will be passed on in full to Scottish stakeholders to provide stability and certainty for the rural economy.

The UK Government’s position on EU Funding Guarantees demonstrates in the starkest possible terms that there are absolutely no guarantees or clarity on what will replace current European Union funding streams after the date that the UK proposes to leave the EU.

The UK Government has recently revised its position on EU funding guarantees to cover in full the payment of all EU funding contracts for fishing, farming and food projects that are entered into before the UK proposes to leave the EU. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution has confirmed that these guarantees will be passed on in full to Scottish stakeholders to provide stability and certainty for these key sectors of the rural economy.

The UK Government’s position on EU Funding Guarantees demonstrates in the starkest possible terms that there are absolutely no guarantees or clarity on what will replace current European Union funding streams after the date that the UK proposes to leave the EU.

Our discussions with the enterprise agencies, including Scottish Development International, have indicated that the majority of companies consider it too early to gauge the specific impact of Brexit on their business or decisions to invest. In the meantime, we are working closely with the enterprise agencies, as well as public, academic and industry partners to ensure there is a strong package of support for Scottish businesses and potential overseas investors. We also continue to engage directly with businesses following the EU referendum to listen to concerns, provide reassurance and reiterate that Scotland remains open for business.

The Scottish Government is clear that, if we leave the EU without putting successor arrangements in place for the European Arrest Warrant, the advantages of speed and the streamlined process that the European Arrest Warrant provides and which benefit all parties will be lost.

As I outlined in Parliament on 1 November, there is no current clarity on this matter. Arrangements relating to the European Arrest Warrant are reserved so it is a matter for the UK Government to ensure appropriate arrangements continue post-Brexit for Scotland as well as the rest of the UK.