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While it is disappointing that the latest RSPB survey has reported that overall, corncrake numbers in Scotland are declining, however, it is encouraging to note they are increasing in some areas, especially in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney.

The Scottish Government is committed to halting the decline of the breeding populations of corncrakes in Scotland. It specifically supports the conservation of this species through the Agri-Environment Climate (AEC) Scheme, which provides for land management options to benefit corncrakes.

Since 1995, over £11m has been spent or committed through the Scottish Government’s Rural Priorities and AEC Schemes to specifically protect corncrake habitat in the corncrake strongholds in Argyll and Outer Hebrides, West Highlands and North West Highlands.

In 2019, under the current AEC Scheme, over 2,500 hectares are being managed to directly benefit this species.

I refer the Member to the answer that I gave to question S5T-01787 in the Chamber on 17 September 2019. The answer to the Topical Question is available on the Parliaments website, the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12256&i=110781

I take very seriously the pressures that Scotland’s prisons face, and especially the rise in the prisoner population. I have been working closely with the Scottish Prison Service to see that robust measures are in place to ensure the safety of staff and of the prisoners who are in our care. In addition to extending the Presumption Against Short Sentences to 12 months which came into force in July, we have established a Prisons Resilience Leadership Group which is looking at a range of actions including:

• Increasing awareness of, access to and support for community sentences and alternatives to custody;
• Looking more widely at how bail law operates and at access to support and mentoring schemes in the community to make sure that remand is only used when it is needed to protect the public;
• The revision of guidance for Home Detention Curfew (HDC) when we commence the parts of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 that provide for an expansion of electronic monitoring and make important improvements to temporary release and to HDC.

Additional funding for supervised and supported bail has been allocated to bolster existing services and facilitate the establishment of new provision.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

Whilst an increased prison population can place greater pressure on basic services and facilities, the Health and Safety of those who live, work and visit our prisons remains our primary concern. All prison activity at HMP Low Moss is fully risk assessed and accompanied by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and/or Safe Systems of Work (SSoW).

All Risk Assessments and SSoW are subject to a management review in response to any operational changes, new systems of work or any other significant changes to working patterns or the working environment.

As HMP Low Moss’ population has increased all relevant Risk Assessments and SSoW have been reviewed and updated as appropriate in partnership with the Local Prison Officer Association representatives. This process fully considered any additional risks presented and robust control measures were implemented to mitigate these.

Dynamic risk assessment is an ongoing feature of prison work. Where any imminent risk to health, or safety, is identified then an appropriate response will be implemented by the Governor in Charge.

Data is not currently held for 2020, however I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond with relevant data for 2019. His response is as follows:

The following tables provide a breakdown of the average occupancy, design capacity and occupancy rate at each Scottish prison in 2019.

May 2019 (Average Prison Population = 8234)

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25316 on 26 September 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

We continue to call for an equitable energy market that serves all consumers fairly regardless of location. The regulation of energy markets for electricity and gas is reserved under the Scotland Act (1998). We are, however, committed to using our devolved consumer advocacy powers to best effect and are developing new ways to ensure Scottish consumer interests are effectively heard and acted on at the UK level. The Scottish Government’s recently published Energy Consumer Action Plan aims to make sure that needs and expectations of Scottish energy consumers drive change in the evolving energy market as we transition to a net zero economy.

We also recognise the need to tackle fuel poverty and poor energy efficiency as means of promoting consumer interests. We published a draft Fuel Poverty Strategy in June 2019, alongside the introduction of the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition & Strategy) (Scotland) Bill to Parliament. These took account of the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force report, which examined the full range of issues around fuel poverty in rural areas, including national network charging proposals.

We are on track to deliver our 2016 Programme for Government commitment to make £500 million available over the 4 years to 2021 to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. The Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map published in May 2018 sets out how we will make our homes more efficient. It proposed that homes will need to meet EPC band C by 2040; and that our aim is to maximise the number of homes achieving EPC Band C by 2030 through targeted support and enabling action, with all homes to reach EPC C by 2040.

We consulted this year on whether Energy Efficient Scotland could be accelerated and how this could be achieved in line with a Just Transition. We will consider the responses with our partners in local government, and respond by the end of year to the consultation. This will form part of an updated Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map. We are however taking action now. From 1 April 2020 Private Rented Sector (PRS) landlords will need to meet minimum energy efficiency standards (EPC Band E) for new tenancies, and for all tenancies by 31 March 2022.

To facilitate simplified supplier switching throughout the energy market, the Scottish Government funds Home Energy Scotland to give consumers advice on how to reduce their energy bills and select the best available tariff.

Electricity network policy and pricing is reserved to the UK Government. We recognise that network charges in the north of Scotland, despite being reduced as a result of the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS), remain higher than those in the rest of Great Britain. We responded recently to BEIS’ review of the HBRS and agreed with its proposal that the scheme should remain in place.

We remain closely engaged with the UK Government and Ofgem, on network charging issues – including, for example, Ofgem's ongoing Future Charging and Access reforms, where we continue to highlight the importance of charging arrangements that support the development and connection of Scotland's vast renewable resources, including on the Scottish islands.

Networks are currently undergoing unprecedented levels of change as we continue to decarbonise the energy that flows through them and change the way we use electricity. The Scottish Government will continually seek to influence decisions of UK Ministers to deliver outcomes for Scotland which reflect our distinct circumstances, ambitions and priorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25223 on 26 September 2019. 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 .

Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council have traditionally been wholly responsible for their inter-island ferry services, including fares, timetable, operations, pay, terms and conditions and vessels.

However, the Scottish Government understands the significant financial challenges that can fall on individual local authorities on supporting local ferry services.

In August 2018, the Scottish Government announced a £3.5 million Resilience Fund for the CalMac fleet to cover financial year 2018-19. A further £4 million of funding was allocated in the 2019-2020 budget to carry out further resilience work on CalMac vessels. This has resulted in an additional £7.5 million funding on top of that spent by CalMac Ferries to improve the resilience and reliance of the fleet serving on the CHFS network.

The Orkney internal fleet did not benefit from that funding.

However in the 2018-19 Budget announcement, the Scottish Government announced support for local authority ferry services in respect of Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council. This is new funding, never previously made available to Orkney Islands Council in any period since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999.

Further financial allocations were also made available to Orkney Islands Council from this Scottish Government in the 2019-20 budget. This has resulted in additional funding of £10.8 million, over the financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20 to support Orkney Islands Council in the operation of their ferry services.

This support is in addition to the Block Grant Funding already provided to local authorities from the Scottish Government, which has historically included funding for ferry services.

We recognise the challenges faced by both Councils and, on Ministers’ behalf, Transport Scotland will continue to discuss long term solutions with Orkney Islands Council through the existing Officials Working Group before bringing recommendations to Ministers thereafter.

As we have discussed, I met with the leader of both Orkney Islands Council on 20 June 2019 to discuss the emerging key information from the Outline Business Cases, which are being prepared by consultants Peter Brett Associates (PBA) to inform future revenue and capital funding asks.

Air travel continues to be one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel, not least for islands communities. We will work to decarbonise scheduled flights within Scotland by 2040. We will support the trialling and introduction of low and zero emission aircraft with the first such trials taking place in 2021. We will also work in collaboration with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to create the world’s first zero emission aviation region to decarbonise airport operations and infrastructure. In undertaking these commitments, engagement with passengers, other airport users and relevant stakeholders will be a priority. As technology in this area is moving quickly, we will work closely with researchers and product developers to ensure our plans benefit from the latest innovation and knowledge exchange. Further information on our proposals will be set out later this year in HIAL’s updated strategy.

A move to decarbonising air services in the Highlands and Islands has the potential to make communities more accessible and more affordable. Electric aircraft are expected to have lower operating costs than conventional aircraft, both in terms of fuel costs and maintenance. Lower operating costs also have the potential to improve the sustainability of routes, make new routes viable, and reduce costs of passengers. Further information will be set out later this year in HIAL’s updated strategy.