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As of 30 September 2016, superfast coverage – through the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) programme and commercial deployment – is as follows:

Orkney – 48.8%

Shetland – 51.6%

Highlands & Islands – 65.2%

Rest of Scotland – 88.5%

These figures assume that commercial rollout is completed on time, and in line with plans submitted to the Scottish Government.

As of 30 September 2016, the percentage capable of receiving superfast broadband, directly as a result of the DSSB programme, is as follows:

Orkney – 48.8%

Shetland – 51.6%

Highlands & Islands – 44.3%

Rest of Scotland – 16.8%

Therefore, were it not for the investment made by the Scottish Government and partners in the DSSB programme, there would be no superfast broadband coverage at all on either Orkney or Shetland.

Prior to the full roll-out of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network, an electric vehicle discount scheme was implemented in March 2014 on the busy routes to Bute and Mull. This discount scheme provided a 50% discount on single electric car or electric motorbike tickets.

The electric vehicle discount scheme was subsequently superseded by the introduction of RET, which provides significantly reduced fares across the CHFS network. A benefit of RET is that it simplifies the fares regime, with no additional discounts.

This Government was elected in 2016 with a clear manifesto commitment to take action to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles. Work is well underway in this regard, including a major local consultation exercise. Consideration is currently being given to the views expressed as part of that consultation.

In the meantime ferry fares to the Northern Isles were frozen for 2017, the second consecutive year that prices have been kept on hold.

The Scottish Government grant funds the Energy Saving Trust for a range of transport programmes, which includes fuel efficient driver training sessions. These sessions are promoted to organisations through the local EST transport advisor network and are usually promoted with further advice to businesses on reducing the carbon impact of their transport. Additionally, individuals can book a session through the Home Energy Scotland advice line.

These sessions are free to the participant and up to 3,000 places a year have been funded to 2016-17. Each session lasts approximately 50 minutes. Sessions are also available for Electric Vehicle drivers, which last approximately teo hours. More information is available at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/businesses-organisations/transport/fuelgood-driver-training

The Scottish Government is concerned about these findings. We believe in promoting opportunities and fair treatment for everyone in workplace, irrespective of personal and demographic characteristics.

We know that bullying and harassment in the workplace damages employers as well as workers. CIPD estimate its cost to UK employers as upward of £2 billion per year through 'sickness absence, staff turnover, reduced productivity for the victims and their colleagues as well as the cost of potential litigation'. And for the individual, the cost typically includes absence from work but may also include poorer mental health, particularly for workers who feel unable to defend themselves from the bullying behaviour.

This is why in A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People we describe a Scotland where we want equal opportunities for disabled people in education and employment. And improved awareness and understanding of discrimination, prejudice and barriers faced by disabled people including the physical environment, stigma and negative attitudes.

A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People describes a Scotland where we want equal opportunities for disabled people in education.

and employment, as well as improved awareness and understanding of discrimination, prejudice and barriers faced by disabled people including the physical environment, stigma and negative attitudes. It sets out a range of actions to support our ambition for decent incomes and fairer working lives, under the headline commitment to reduce barriers to employment for disabled people and seek to reduce by at least half, the employment gap between disabled people and the rest of the working age population.

The Scottish Government recognises that the legislative and regulatory frameworks on autonomous vehicles are largely reserved to the UK Government but supports and encourages research, testing and development of autonomous vehicles in Scotland, subject to ensuring the safety of road users.

To that end, Transport Scotland liaise on a regular basis with Scottish Enterprise, the Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in this area. In addition, Transport Scotland is also liaising with other roads authorities across Europe on the introduction of driverless vehicles, in order to ensure that road authorities and operators are in a position to make informed decisions on facilitating automated driving as and when the technology develops.

The amount and composition of funding for fuel efficient driver training in 2017-18 is currently being finalised, following the approval of the Budget Bill by the Scottish Parliament on 23 February 2017.

The amount and composition of funding for fuel efficient driver training beyond
2017-18 will be agreed annually, to ensure funding is deployed in such a way as to maximise uptake.

As set out in the Programme for Government 2016-17 this Bill is part of the Scottish Government’s Year one legislative programme.

The Government sequences the introduction of Bills across the parliamentary year. The Minister for Parliamentary Business has met with relevant Committee Conveners to discuss timings and allocations of Government Bills, including that referred to by the member.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Implementation of the Police Scotland Gaelic language plan is a matter for the Chief Constable.

Minutes of my meetings with policy officials are not routinely taken.