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Closing skills gaps is recognised by the Scottish Government as an important driver of economic growth, business growth, and ensuring that those in and entering the labour market fulfil their maximum potential. This is a priority for us and is fully reflected in our Economic Strategy and Labour Market Strategy. Complementing the actions being taken at the national level, in the Scottish Borders, amongst other initiatives, we are:

• Encouraging Enterprise and Skills Agencies to work with Borders College to ensure learners develop the skills that lead to higher level study or employment.

• Supporting and funding the Borders Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) regional group to improve opportunities for young people in the region.

• Through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) targeting promotion of Apprenticeship opportunities in the Scottish Borders.

• Through Skills Development Scotland (SDS) providing career information, advice and guidance in schools and centres.

• Establishing the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency to further focus on the needs of the area and drive inclusive growth.

The Scottish Government is working with Borders College through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to ensure that learners in the Scottish Borders are gaining the skills to work within a knowledge-based economy. Borders College has an acute focus on developing students’ employability skills and improving outcomes, and we will build on this strong foundation to equip learners with the skills they need to thrive within the regional economy.

Industry and Sector led Skills Investment Plans (SIPs) will highlight the priorities that need to be addressed to support future growth of the knowledge-based economy. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will facilitate these SIPs, building upon their development of the Regional Skills Assessments. This complements the work SDS and Borders Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) already undertakes in the region to maximise the uptake of Work Based Learning and Apprenticeship opportunities.

Over the next 6 months work will be on-going in 43 exchange areas across Scottish Borders, to connect more than 3700 additional premises to fibre enabling infrastructure.

We also have an online interactive map (www.scotlandsuperfast.com/where-when/) so that members of the public can directly access fibre broadband roll-out information for their area.

The current roll-out of DSSB programme has so far provided access to fibre broadband to 80.1% premises in the Scottish Borders, with 77.5% capable ofreceiving superfast speeds. Without the programme’s investment, commercial coverage in Scottish Borders would have reached only 39.3%. On top of this, even though telecoms is a reserved matter, the Scottish Government has chosen to act and made a commitment to deliver 100% superfast broadband access to every premise in Scotland by the end of 2021. No premises will be excluded from the Reaching 100% programme.

Modern Apprenticeship Statistics published on 6 June 2017 showed a 22% rise in uptake of Modern Apprenticeship’s in the Scottish Borders with 472 starts in 2016-17 compared to 387 starts in 2016-17.

The Borders Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group has been working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and the Local Authority to promote Scottish apprenticeship opportunities including Foundation, Modern and Graduate level to employers, young people, parents and teachers.

The Scottish Government welcomes creative and innovative tourism solutions and our Programme for Government sets out our plan to work towards delivering a long distance walking and cycling route, offering an experience equivalent to the successful North Coast 500. Officials will also meet with Emma Harper MSP in November in response to her request to discuss proposals for a South of Scotland tourism route. Like the North Coast 500, any initiatives will be developed collaboratively with our tourism industry.

The recording of data relating to criminal offences is governed by the Scottish Crime Reporting Board. Members of this Board, which includes Police Scotland, Scottish Police Authority, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Crown Office, British Transport Police and representatives of the Defence, have responsibility for deciding whether any changes should be made in this area.

The criminal law in Scotland is clear in that anyone using acid or other corrosive substances to attack another person can be convicted of assault and receive up to life imprisonment. The sentence in any given case is a matter for the court.

While there is no specific evidence to suggest incidences of attacks using corrosive substances are increasing in Scotland, they are clearly an horrific matter whenever they do occur. Scottish Government officials have recently met with UK Government officials to discuss the actions announced by the UK Government in July. We understand that the actions by the UK Government are a specific response to the recent increase in the number of such attacks, especially in London. Further discussions will be held including specifically possible action in relation to online sales noting that any legislative steps in this area may well be outwith the competence of the Scottish Parliament given it would relate to the operation of the internet.

Natural England is currently considering an application for a licence to release lynx at Kielder Forest on the English side of the border. The Scottish Government has agreed with Natural England that Scottish Government views on the application will be taken into account in considering the application, given the cross-border implications of any decision to release lynx at that location. The likely impacts on livestock will form a key part of the views submitted by the Scottish Government.

The Tourism Development Framework for Scotland will build on existing investment by setting out the action needed to assist and promote future growth in Scotland’s visitor economy. Through our high-level Tourism Working Group, we will continue to work with all of our public and private sector partners to ensure that Scotland will become a destination of first choice, providing authentic and high-quality visitor experiences.

Collaborative working between public and private partners continues to deliver improved infrastructure for destinations. An excellent example is the Moat Brae Trust – supported with a Creative Scotland capital grant of £687,543 and £251,095 funding to date from Historic Environment Scotland and its predecessor body Historic Scotland.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) continues to invest in local regeneration throughout Scotland through its grants schemes of £14.5 million per year and, with an increased capital budget of £3.15 million in 2017-18, to enhance the Properties in the Care of the Scottish Ministers and improve the visitor experience through conserving and maintaining those properties.

An example of Scottish Government supporting community development of tourism infrastructure through partnership working is the award of £150,000 from the Scottish Government Town Centre Communities Capital Fund (TCCCF) to the Fort William Marina & Shoreline Company. FWM&SC is working with Lochaber Chamber of Commerce and The Highland Council to seek to attract smaller cruise vessels into Fort William. Highlands and Islands Enterprise Highlands and Islands Enterprise also provided a further £20,000 for a notice board and shelter

The trunk road section of A7 in Scotland runs from the Scottish Border to Galashiels. The A7 to the north of Galashiels is not trunk road and is the responsibility of local authorities. Following the fatal accident on the trunk road section of the A7 on 7 August at Kirkton Bridge, a site meeting was attended by Transport Scotland, Amey, the A7 operating company and Police Scotland. At this meeting it was agreed that no road issues were identified as a contributory factor in the accident.

Works carried out this year to improve the safety of the A7 route include the construction of pedestrian improvements and crossing facilities to the north of Hawick at Guthrie Drive and new carriageway construction to improve the road surface on the section of the A7 to the south of Hawick. Other safety measures include the A7 Route Accident Reduction Plan which is programmed for construction in October/November 2017 and comprises the introduction of safety improvement measures at a number of bends along the route. These measures will provide a consistent message along the route which will alert drivers to the different layouts of each of the bends and will include signage, road markings and surfacing as appropriate

Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the A7 as part of the Annual Safety Review process and implement measures where necessary.