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There are currently no plans to procure a federated data platform for the NHS in Scotland. However, we want to make sure that we have the technology and infrastructure in place to equip health and care professionals to better collect, store and use data.

I am aware of Glasgow City Council’s ambitions for a proposed M8 ‘garden cap’. Given that this proposal is about the wider public realm and land-use within the city it is more appropriate that this work is led by the City Council.

Transport Scotland will continue to engage constructively with the City Council where proposals or projects are considered to have a potential impact on transport assets and services owned and or provided by Scottish Ministers.

David Lowrie was appointed last year as the interim CEO on a temporary basis. The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Rail Holdings will commence in the coming period.

The Network Support Grant Plus was always intended to be time limited COVID recovery funding. I have extended it on two occasions; in June 2022 and October 2022 and operators agreed to the extension being dependent on an end point in March. Operators are also being supported by a marketing campaign from Scottish Government, to encourage users back to bus where we have seen a decline in patronage since the pandemic.

As part of the terms and conditions for the Network Support Grant Plus, my officials have been working with bus operators throughout the scheme's duration on monitoring as patronage levels increase, recognising that the majority of bus services are run by private companies due to deregulation. It is clear that the cost of living crisis, coupled with ongoing Brexit impacts, is making it challenging to deliver bus services in many local communities. I continue to collaborate with bus operators through the Bus Taskforce to address the immediate challenges to help bus operators move to a more sustainable footing and ensure the sector is supported by wider policies to improve services.

The answer to the question is provided in the following table, detailed for each vessel in the Calmac Ferries services fleet.

(CY) denotes contract year and (CHFS) denotes Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-15855 on 28 March 2023. 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 .

Scottish Ministers and officials have been working with industry stakeholders to explore the data on routes key Scottish exports take to market. Officials plan to annually update and publish this data on the modes and routes through which exports leave Scotland, including the commodity gaps in relation to the rest of the UK, to better inform exporters on the flows of Scottish goods to the EU and the rest of the world, as we continue to explore opportunities to increase exports from Scotland.

The Scottish Ministers have set a further rail freight growth target for rail control period seven (2024-2029) through their recent High Level Output Specification. Details can be viewed via the following link:-

Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification (HLOS) - Control Period 7 - 2024 – 2029 | Transport Scotland .

There have been no such meetings with Pentland Ferries on this matter. Any discussions regarding the chartering of vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract would be a matter for the operator CalMac Ferries Limited.

The Resource Spending Review set out the spend trajectory up to 2026-27. Annual budgets will continue to be set through the standard Parliamentary budget bill process for subsequent years.

The Scottish Ministerial Code provides clear guidance to Ministers on how they should act and arrange their affairs in order to uphold the highest standards of propriety and is intended to speak for itself. Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in light of the code and for justifying their actions to Parliament and the public. The First Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and of the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.