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The Scottish Government plans to launch a public consultation on a cruise ship levy before the end of the year, to formally hear the views of those potentially affected by such a levy.

Cabinet minutes provide a full account of decisions made but are not a verbatim record. As such, it is not possible to determine with certainty when or how many times a particular topic has been discussed at Cabinet. The Cabinet discusses issues relating to the natural environment on a regular basis.

Business cases for new train fleets for ScotRail are undertaken by ScotRail on a fleet by fleet basis as necessitated by renewal requirements. Such business cases include analysis of the socio-economic case for renewal.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Shipping safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government. Coastguard operations are the responsibility of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, reporting to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, is responsible for providing an effective response to maritime incidents in UK waters.

The Scottish Government expects the highest shipping safety standards and for these to be followed by those accessing our coastal areas.

The final spend for 2023 survey amounted to £155,238. The final spend for 2024 is yet to be finalised but will come within the total approved spend allocation of £111,954.

As set out in the Scottish Budget, the financial position for 2024-25 is extremely challenging and we continue to operate in a volatile period, with difficult decisions being made and robust spending controls in place. In light of the potential financial risks and uncertainties, we are unable to confirm the 2024-25 Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) funding position for local authorities at this current time.

Ministers have, however, authorised an initial release of PBIP funding to support projects that are well underway and at risk of stalling, to protect significant investment made to date, and to reduce the risk of losing match funding. Scottish Government officials have been working closely with councils to identify these priority projects.

We hope to be able to provide further clarity on the full PBIP allocation for 2024-25 in the autumn.

Work continues apace on the Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme, developed in light of the recommendations of James Withers’ Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape and the Scottish Government’s own report on the Post-school education, research and skills - purpose and principles - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Following my initial update of March 2024 to the Education, Children and Young People Committee, I provided the latest update on progress in a letter to that Committee on 25 June 2024, available at Post School Reform 25 June 2024 (parliament.scot) . This letter includes an annex detailing our position and actions taken with regards to each of the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape.

The need for an Environmental Impact Assessment would be dependent upon the site and whether there is any material change of use with regards to existing permissions. Ultimately, that is a local planning matter and determining whether the operator requires further planning permission is for the relevant planning authority to consider.

Maximising incomes and ensuring everyone can access social security entitlements are fundamental priorities for the Scottish Government. In 2024-25 we plan to invest over £12 million in income maximisation and welfare advice services – including nearly £4.6 million for Citizens Advice Scotland’s Money Talk Team service, which last year helped over 9,000 older people secure financial gains of over £7 million.

Improving uptake to Pension Credit is important to this, given the DWP estimates from October 2023 that an estimated £1.7bn is unclaimed, made even more critical now, given the UK Government’s announcement to end universal Winter Fuel Payments and to restrict those in receipt of Pension Credit and means-tested benefits only.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28357 on 23 July 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers