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CHAS received £6m pa from 2016/17 – 2020/21. This was followed by a Programme for Government commitment in 2021/22 to “ensure provision of high-quality child palliative care, regardless of location, supported by sustainable funding of at least £7m per year through Children’s Hospices Across Scotland”.

The publication of the Agricultural Reform Route Map was announced on 10 February. The route map provides more detail on how SG will deliver the transition process and the steps that will be taken to get there. Furthermore, the route map sets out the timescales for information and interaction with the agricultural industry and is regularly updated to ensure that the most up to date information is available.

Decisions on the future support framework will be determined as part of the wider agricultural reform process. Work is ongoing and we remain committed to a co-design approach. This includes continued work with the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), engagement with wider industry, all committed to a vibrant and successful rural Scotland and drawing on the responses from the recent Bill Consultation.

It is in this further context that I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12369 on 2 December 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-answer

Decisions relating to the operational delivery of the qualifications, including appeals, are a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

While alternative approaches were adopted in 2020, 2021 and 2022, these were temporary, emergency measures in response to the pandemic and the specific circumstances in each of those years.

SQA arrived at the appeals approach for 2023 based on an extensive evaluation of the 2022 arrangements and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents and learners.

Alternative evidence will be considered if a learner is unable to attend their exam, for example through illness or bereavement or whose performance in the examination may have been affected by personal circumstances, through the Exam Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service.

The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to an infrastructure solution to address the A83 Rest and Be Thankful landslip risks. I share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.

Transport Scotland continues to progress design and assessment work on both the medium and long-term solutions at pace. Transport Scotland also continues to explore methods to reduce the timescales to bring forward both the medium-term and long-term improvements as soon as possible, whilst continuing to maximise the availability of the existing A83.

Clearly market conditions have changed in the past few years - the pandemic, Brexit and inflationary pressures have all played their respective parts in changing the procurement and delivery landscape across Government. However, we will continuously review the impact of current inflationary pressures and market conditions on both medium and long-term measures.

A detailed programme for the proposed medium-term improvements to the Old Military Road through Glen Croe is now being developed. It is expected that these works will be carried out on a phased basis starting later this year. I will provide an update on the delivery programme for the medium-term improvements at the next A83 Taskforce meeting which is scheduled to take place in June 2023.

In terms of the long-term solution, we are working towards announcing a preferred route option by this Spring.

Throughout our programme of work to deliver the new Winter Heating Payment in Scotland, the Scottish Government engaged regularly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and emphasised the need for data to be transferred as early as possible.

DWP were unable to provide the data required prior to 31 January. The Scottish Government and DWP have begun discussions about the feasibility of moving payments forward for future years.

The Scottish Government recognise the challenge for local authorities that have responsibility for ferries and welcomes all extra funding for Scotland. However, it is unacceptable for the UK Government to decide how money is spent in areas of devolved responsibility.

The Scottish Government actively engages with the shipbuilding industry, through individual companies and our enterprise and skills agencies. Transport Scotland has no role in the procurement of local authority ferries.

Details of all Ministerial engagements and expenses are proactively published by the Scottish Government, including the costs of travel and accommodation. The information can be accessed at the below link: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/.

Rail enhancement projects successfully completed in Control Period 6 include Queen Street station redevelopment, new stations at Robroyston, Reston and Inverness Airport and Far North Enhancements. The Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project and the new East Linton station remain on schedule to be completed within Control Period 6.

As a result of the proposed reduction on the Major Public Transport Projects budget for 2023-24 there is limited impact on Transport Scotland’s Control Period 6 plans. There are rail projects that commenced in Control Period 6 and have been planned to span into Control Period 7. These projects that will be delivered in Control Period 7 include the reopening of the railway to Levenmouth, including two new stations at Leven and Cameron Bridge, works to electrify the railway from Haymarket to Dalmeny and the electrification of the East Kilbride route.

I am not appraised of the quote in question and nor are my officials in Transport Scotland.

Hull 802 and MV Glen Sannox length is 102.4m with a beam of 17.0m and a maximum operational draft of 3.7m. Little Minch vessels length will be 94.8m with a beam of 18.7m and a maximum operational draft of 4.0m.