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As part of the Scottish Government’s recent Consultation on Provisions for a Future Islands Bill, views were sought on a range of issues including the concept of island proofing with the flexibility to issue statutory guidance and also councillor representation in island communities.

The findings of the independent analysis of the responses received was published on 14 March 2016 and this will help inform the development of a draft Bill.

Decisions on the introduction of a future Bill will be for the next Scottish Government to determine following the Scottish parliamentary elections in May 2016.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30399 on 21 March 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

In 2016-17 NHS Orkney’s resource budget will increase by 4.6% to £43.2 million, an above inflation increase, and in line with the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee target, which reflects our commitment to move all board’s to parity using the ‘differential growth’ model.

The Scottish Government provided the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) with funding of £66,000 for a three year period which was always intended to end in March 2016, with no organisations guaranteed funding beyond this point.

However, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment was able to provide SAYFC with funding of £30,000 in recognition of the role it plays in his portfolio interests. This is not linked to the previous funding.

To give a full answer to the question i.e. to provide information spanning five years, broken down as requested has necessitated further bespoke interrogation of the IT system and will take some time to complete. The requested information will be made available to the requestor as soon as we are able to do so.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30769 on 18 March 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30765 and S4W-30769 on 18 March 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.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Applications to the new Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Funds were assessed in terms of relevance, need, quality (of outcomes proposed), sustainability, consideration of vulnerable groups (equalities), partnership/collaborative working, likelihood to deliver and value for money.

All applications were assessed according to these criteria and scored. The score for the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC’s) application fell below that of many other organisations which better met the fund criteria. That decision was taken by the board set up by the Scottish Government to ensure that the fund had a balanced portfolio and that essential activities and services will be supported, and make final decisions.

SAYFC has received feedback on the quality of its application from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and importantly, on how to improve any future application.

All 32 local authorities offer kinship care payments.

At present our focus is to secure devolution of management and revenues of the Crown Estate in Scotland. We will implement interim arrangements to manage Crown Estate assets in advance of the Scottish Parliament using devolved powers which ensure a full and faithful implementation of The Smith Commission recommendations.

Future decisions on the longer term management arrangements will form part of a Scottish Government consultation process. We have already committed to provide coastal and island councils with 100% of net revenue from Crown Estate marine activities inside the 12 nautical mile zone, following devolution.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with island councils and other local authorities, through the Stakeholder Advisory Group on the Crown Estate, to develop options for the longer term framework. As part of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group process we have been discussing the potential for piloting devolution of functions for management of Crown Estate assets in the three island council areas ahead of a Scottish Bill.