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In Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022), published in December 2012, it was noted (chapter 2 paragraph 11) that the current ro-pax vessels chartered from RBS for the Northern Isles ferry services will only be 18 years old in 2018 and it will be feasible for them to continue on the routes for another contract period. We are taking that forward in discussion with RBS and local stakeholders.

Serco NorthLink commenced operating the Northern Isles ferry services contract on 5 July 2012. Transport Scotland has identified the following items of formal correspondence regarding the Northern Isles ferry services contract operated by Serco NorthLink:

Ministerial correspondence cases: 92

Freedom of Information requests: 9

The total volume of communication during the contract period to date is likely to have been higher when telephone calls and emails not routinely filed are taken into account.

Transport Scotland chairs the Northern Isles Ferry Services Consultative Forum. The forum acts as a consultative mechanism with key stakeholders coming together at regular intervals to consider issues around the ferry services to their communities. The forum has met on four occasions since it was established in December 2013 with the most recent meeting occurring on 23 June 2015.

The following bodies are represented on the forum: HITRANS, ZetTrans, Shetland Island Council, Orkney Island Council, Serco NorthLink Ferries, Pentland Ferries, John O’Groats Ferries, Aberdeen Harbour Board, Lerwick Port Authority, Scrabster Harbour Trust, Stromness and Kirkwall Harbours and VisitScotland.

Transport issues, including ferries, have also been discussed at meetings of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

No decisions have been taken at this stage about the membership of the working group which will oversee the comprehensive study into the Northern Isles ferry services to inform the next tender process. The external consultant appointed by Transport Scotland to undertake the comprehensive study will be required to engage with key stakeholder groups.

The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of Nairn as one of Scotland’s top seaside locations, an accolade underlined by both the 22 years it has held Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Seaside Award, and its recent inclusion as one of TripAdvisor’s top 25 UK beaches.

The Scottish Government is supportive in general of all areas of Scotland working to achieve the industry-led ambition for Scotland to be a first-choice tourism destination. Scotland’s stunning assets are promoted across the UK and overseas by VisitScotland in a number of ways, such as websites, print, direct mail and PR activity. In relation to the promotion of Nairn, the town is well represented in VisitScotland’s Explore: Inverness, Nairn and Loch Ness guide; has a relevant page on visitscotland.com (http://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/nairn-p236781); and has an Information Point in Partnership located within the Nairn Community Centre, which is open all year round.

More specifically, Nairn also featured prominently in VisitScotland’s spring 2015 campaign to promote the Highlands, with which VisitScotland worked closely with the Highland Council and local tourism bodies, including VisitNairn. This promotional activity included the prize of a three night luxury break in Nairn. VisitScotland also highlighted the Nairn Highland Games and the theatre event ‘Drift’, which took place on Nairn Beach, in their June Scotland e-zines which went out to 13,000 people in mid-June. The July edition highlighted the Nairn Book and Arts Festival.

There is also financial support for events in the Highlands such as the World Orienteering Championships, including the opening ceremony in Nairn on 1 August 2015. These events help attract competitors, families and spectators to the area and VisitScotland (through EventScotland) invested £280,000 in the event, making them the majority investor. EventScotland estimate that the six day event brought more than 5,000 people to the local area and helped deliver an estimated visitor spend of around £2.5 million. In addition, international TV coverage was beamed to some two million people, showcasing the area to potential visitors from around the world.

Golf is another key asset for Nairn and the Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open will return to nearby Castle Stuart in 2016 with VisitScotland assisting financially as well as marketing and promotional activity. In addition, the opportunities for individual businesses during the 2015 Year of Food and Drink is being heavily promoted by public body partners. As well as the logo, a toolkit has been produced to assist businesses and events (such as the World Orienteering Championships) harness the potential of the year.

There has also been direct ministerial engagement with VisitNairn to discuss ways in which tourism can be further developed within the community, building on Nairn’s many strengths. My ministerial engagement in Nairn on 15 April 2015 demonstrated that, working in partnership with a range of public bodies, the Scottish Government is supporting the development, and people’s enjoyment of, Nairn as a seaside holiday destination in a number of ways. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) works with business and social enterprises of growth potential in Nairn, as elsewhere, providing them with support to grow, internationalise, innovate and invest. In terms of specific support for the development and enjoyment of Nairn as a tourism destination, HIE and VisitScotland are working with VisitNairn, to reinforce the region’s key strengths and promote authentic experiences to inspire potential visitors to take a break in the Highlands.

In addition to working with both individual businesses and the destination group, HIE, along with partners, is working with the community on a wider plan for the town centre. HIE has provided seed funding of around £5,000 to enable some of this initial planning work to be undertaken.

The current Scottish Government National Marine Plan, and the associated planning linkages with the VisitScotland National Tourism Development Framework, provides greater certainty for potential investors, enables partners to identify current and future synergies and facilitates compliance with regulations which have helped deliver an improved environment for residents and visitors alike. For the future, the industry-led ‘Scottish Marine Tourism Development Group action plan’, expected in November 2015 “seeks to maximise the opportunities to grow marine tourism by providing a framework under which all the different elements of the marine tourism sector can grow.” This will enable all public bodies, across Scotland, to align their actions to maximise the benefits for seaside destinations, such as Nairn.

The provision of fuels for vehicles is a matter for the commercial sector. However, the Scottish Government remains committed to the decarbonisation of the road transport sector and recognises that a range of technologies will be required. Transport Scotland meets with stakeholders across the sector on a regular basis to explore how we can work in partnership to achieve this.

An enthusiastic and trained workforce underpins Scotland's ambition for economic success and our successful Modern Apprenticeship (MA) programme supports this goal by providing individuals with the opportunity to secure industry-recognised qualifications while earning a wage. The Scottish Government, through our national skills body, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), provides a contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for MAs. We primarily prioritise this funding towards young people. However, in recognition that there are industry areas which contribute significantly towards economic growth, we also provide a contribution for MAs aged 25 and above in key and enabling sectors. This includes the framework for Freight Logistics which encompasses the planning, routing and movement of freight across all transport modes road, rail, sea and air as well as associated activities such as warehousing and storage. HGV Training centres may find it beneficial to engage with SDS. Information on how to become an SDS approved provider, delivering national training programmes is available on SDS’ website:

http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/provider-central/national-training-programmes/, or by calling SDS on 0800 783 6000. SDS has a dedicated employer helpline and a specific web service, Our Skillsforce, offering help on planning, recruiting and developing a skilled workforce:

https://www.ourskillsforce.co.uk/. Our Skillsforce includes support available not only from SDS but also Jobcentre Plus, Scotland's local authorities and other partners. I understand that the Road Haulage Association have met with Skills Development Scotland and discussions to explore a range of options available, which may help address the driver shortage, are continuing.

Haulage services are delivered by the private sector on a commercial basis. Hauliers therefore decide which vehicle, or vehicle combination, to use in line with what is most appropriate for their business. Through the Scottish Freight Logistics Advisory Group, we maintain a close working relationship with our partners across the public and private sectors to identify and facilitate any opportunities to increase the efficiency and sustainability of freight movements in cities.

Import/export storage containers are provided and located in response to market demands. As such, the quality and provision of such containers are for the private sector to determine.

Improvements to the A95 were considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review. That work concluded that local improvements should be considered, and since 2007 over £20 million has been invested to ensure this key route in the north east of Scotland remains safe, efficient and effective.