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Currently, nationally important archaeological sites and monuments in Scotland are protected under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

This Act confers on Historic Environment Scotland the function of compiling, maintaining and publishing a Schedule (a list) of such monuments. Once a monument is scheduled, it becomes an offence to carry out, without the prior written consent of Historic Environment Scotland (scheduled monument consent), any works which would have the effect of demolishing, destroying, damaging, removing, repairing, altering, adding to, flooding or covering up the monument.

The legislation governing how we manage and care for our built heritage was refreshed under the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011 and the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014.

The Scottish Government has no plans to revisit historic environment legislation in the near future.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Scotland’s historic environment and the wealth of historic structures across the country; many of which are at the heart of our communities.

The protection of archaeological sites is defined by Scottish Planning Policy, which commits to preserving archaeological sites and monuments, and their settings, in situ wherever feasible. When this is not possible, planning authorities should consider applying conditions to planning consents, listed building consents and conservation area consents to ensure that an appropriate level of excavation, recording, analysis, publication and archiving is carried out before and/or during development.

Scheduled monument consent is required from Historic Environment Scotland for any works that would demolish, destroy, damage, remove, repair, alter or add to a monument, or to carry out any flooding or tipping on a scheduled monument.

Scottish Government funding for archaeology is channelled via Historic Environment Scotland grant schemes. Despite recent financial constraints, the Scottish Government has maintained Historic Environment Scotland external grants at £14.5 million per year - £1.4 million is allocated for Archaeology.

This archaeology programme provides funding support for individuals, groups and organisations completing research on Scotland’s archaeological heritage. Intervention projects which rescue archaeological information from unavoidable threats are prioritised for funding.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22720 on 23 April 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

The Scottish Government established a Highlands and Islands Working Group last year to provide independent, expert input into the examination of the issue. The Group has made a valuable contribution to the evidence base by publishing new analysis that underlines the importance of the exemption to the region, and by providing external scrutiny of both evidence and process. However, a solution has not yet been found that would be ready for introduction at the beginning of the next financial year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22720 on 23 April 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 

The Scottish Government and UK Government have continued to work together to try to find a solution. Most recently, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter on 15 February 2019.

The Air Departure Tax (Scotland) Act 2017 makes provision for the tax and sets out its structure. As the member is aware, we continue to work to find a solution to the issue of the Highlands and Islands exemption. When a solution has been found, Parliament will consider regulations setting out the tax bands and rate amounts.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22720 on‎ 23 April 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 

As part of the agreement for Budget 2019-20, the Scottish Government committed to consult on the principles of a locally determined tourist tax in 2019. I will provide information on the detail and scope of the consultation, along with timings of legislation to parliament in due course and in keeping with normal parliamentary business.

This government is committed to ensuring that students with additional needs have the same opportunities to access education and employment as their peers. Scottish Funding Council (SFC) statistics show that in academic year 2016-17, 17.1% of learning hours at college were delivered to students with disabilities and 93% of disabled students at college went onto further study or work.

Since academic year 2015-16, colleges have access to the SFC’s Access and Inclusion Fund, previously known as Extended Learning Support (this year at £50.5m) to help them achieve equality of outcomes for all students, including those with disabilities.

We expect colleges to use the funds to ensure that all students have an equal chance of successfully completing their program of learning and progressing to work or further study.

Prior to academic year 2015-16, this funding was not a set amount and was allocated to colleges based on a claims system.

The Remedial Agreement has now been published on ScotRail’s website. Link is https://www.scotrail.co.uk/sites/default/files/assets/download_ct/train_service
_performance_remedial_plan_redacted.pdf

Both ScotRail and I separately provided an update on ScotRail’s Remedial Plan at the Rural Economy Connectivity Committee on 27 March 2019.