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The Scottish Government will address the issues raised in petition PE1979 in its response to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee. This response will be issued shortly.

The cost of the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy project was £9,963,937.

The Scottish Government takes a whole population approach to tackling alcohol-related harms, in line with the World Health Organization’s focus on affordability, availability and attractiveness of alcohol.

The Scottish Government’s Alcohol Framework sets out our priorities for preventing alcohol-related harm. It contains 20 actions building on existing measures to change Scotland’s relationship with alcohol, including our world-leading minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy.

We are evaluating the impact of MUP at the current price of 50 pence per unit and will assess what level MUP should be set at going forward, if MUP is to continue. If our overall evaluation supports a continuation of MUP, we will lay Orders in Parliament in late 2023 to continue MUP beyond the initial six year period and if the evidence supports a change in price, to set a new unit price.

On 17 November we launched a consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion. This sets out a range of potential proposals including prohibiting alcohol advertising outdoors, phasing out alcohol sponsorship and reducing the promotion of alcohol in-store.

We are working on initiatives that will support people across Scotland to reduce alcohol consumption. These include the review of alcohol brief interventions, the managed alcohol programme pilot and supporting the UK Government on reviewing and updating clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment.

The Emergency Budget Review is about supporting those who need most help, whilst also managing the nation’s budget. This has meant making hard choices to further prioritise spending and find savings.

The Scottish Government, in collaboration with Public Health Scotland (PHS) is undertaking a review of alcohol brief interventions (ABIs). Initial recommendations are expected in Spring 2023, which will determine subsequent work and funding required to further develop ABIs in Scotland.

Work is underway on the development of alcohol treatment targets. An expert working group will provide recommendations to Ministers in 2023, which will determine subsequent next steps.

Paragraph 9(6) of the National Parks (Scotland) 2000 Act states that, if it appears to the National Park Authority that there is a conflict between the National Park aim set out in section 1(a) (i.e. to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area) and other National Park aims, the Authority must give greater weight to the aim set out in section 1(a).

The National Park Authorities in Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs are required by the Scottish Ministers to prepare a National Park Plan setting out how they will deliver the aims of the National Park collectively in relation to their area. The National Park Plan is approved by the Scottish Ministers.

For example, the current Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022-2027 is the strategic management plan for the area and provides a strategic policy context for decision making within the National Park. Section 9 (6) of the National Parks (Scotland ) Act 2000 is embedded in the Park plan and its subsidiary documents and it guides decision making within the Park. The National Park Authority can also apply section 9 (6) to individual decisions if it feels the aims are in conflict and greater weight should be given to the first aim.

Transport Scotland has no plans to establish a freight-only service. We understand that there are commercial operators who have considered such a proposal and it would be for them to consider further. Were a commercial operator to provide any specific proposal for the route, then future deployment and timetables would be reviewed for the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service Islay route.

The Scottish Government meets with the whisky sector regularly to discuss current issues. We recognise the important contribution that Scotch Whisky industry makes to the Scottish economy.

Scottish Ministers are investing in the Islay route with the construction of two purpose-built vessels underway, providing a combined 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes.

The Scottish Government does no t hold information dating back to 2016, but we have met COSLA eight times in 2022 to progress the introduction of the Scottish Recommended Allowance for kinship and foster care. We will continue to work closely with them to find a way forward as quickly as possible.

As advised at the recent Scottish Parliament debate on Essential Road Improvements held on 02 November 2022, the first part of the review, a report on the Public Consultation and the Initial Appraisal: The Case for Change will be published by the end of the year.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12129 on
‎ 22 November 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 following table provides the information requested in relation to capital allocations. For completeness, HIAL Head Office figures are also included. Figures include both grant and loan funding.