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Since the announcement in August 2020 to develop a resilient long term solution to the landslide issues at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, Transport Scotland has spent approximately £5 million in consultancy fees for both the medium term and long term solutions.

The next meeting with the UK Government Department for Transport is scheduled for 31 October 2022. Discussions will cover proposed investment for the A75 only as the Final Union Connectivity Review Report, published in November 2021, did not recommended that the UK Government commit funding to support the upgrade of the A77. To date, the UK Government has committed no funding to upgrading the A75.

The last meeting between the Scottish Government and the UK Government Department for Transport to specifically discuss the Union Connectivity Review’s recommendation for investment in the A75 was on 16 June 2022.

The Union Connectivity Review made no recommendations on upgrading the A77. Discussions between Scottish and UK Government officials have therefore focused solely on the A75. In March 2022, Transport Scotland officials had an initial discussion with UK Government Department for Transport (DfT) counterparts, on the A75. Follow up was undertaken by DfT officials and TS officials on a number of specific clarification questions, with a further meeting held on 16 June.

A subsequent discussion is scheduled for 31 October which will cover UCR recommendations and associated proposed funding for the A75.

Since 4 August 2020, all Type IIR masks supplied to NSS were from Alpha Solway with the following exceptions:

• When NSS demand outstripped Alpha Solway capacity, and
• for specialist Type IIR masks that were of a type not manufactured by Alpha Solway

NSS placed orders which have resulted in the procurement of over 250 million Alpha Solway manufactured items of pandemic PPE during the pandemic. The vast majority of those items have now been received by NSS with a very small amount still due to arrive from those orders. The last order for Alpha Solway products was placed on 30 March 2022.

The Scottish Government is doing everything in our power to help those affected through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE). A PACE Partner event took place on 29 th September 2022, which was attended by around 150 individuals, followed by a Jobs Fair on 10 th October which was attended by around 500 individuals. We are continuing to provide any further PACE support that may be required by the affected employees.

Scottish Enterprise has worked with Arjowiggins for many years, providing grant support as well as expert advice. In 2019, when Stoneywood Mill was a solvent part of the overall group that was in administration, a concerted effort by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise was made to secure the company’s future and protect the jobs of its employees. Since then Scottish Enterprise has provided advice, further loan funding and assistance in leveraging private sector investment. Arjowiggins has received Scottish Enterprise loans totalling £12m, equity investment of £100,000 and grant funding totalling £141,000. Most recently, Scottish Enterprise assisted with detailed options analysis and the pursuit of a buyer for the business. Scottish Enterprise continues to work with the joint administrators to explore all possible options.

The Scottish Government, through Scottish Enterprise, has worked closely with Arjowiggins and its partners since the successful management buyout in 2019. Arjowiggins has received Scottish Enterprise loans totalling £12m, equity investment of £100,000 and grant funding totalling £141,000.

Ministers have been routinely updated on the challenging trading conditions faced by the company since 2020, which included the negative impact of the pandemic and more recently the significant increases in energy costs and the price of raw materials. In relation to Arjowiggins entering into administration, Ministers were advised on 20 th September 2022 that a potential sale of the business would not be proceeding, which resulted in the company entering into administration on 22 September 2022.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11307 on‎ 24 October 2022. 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

The remit of the new Islands Transport Forum is currently being drafted, and will be agreed with the forum members at their first meeting.

Details of the remit and meetings will be published on the Scottish Government website when agreed.

The Scottish Government, through Scottish Enterprise, had been working extensively with Arjowiggins and its partners to explore all possible options to support the business, including the pursuit of a buyer for the business. Scottish Enterprise continues to work with the administrators and partners to understand the potential options for the business going forward and explore all possibilities to rescue the jobs.

The Scottish Government will continue to help those affected through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE).