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Marine Scotland – Licensing Operations Team requested advice from Marine Scotland Science ("MSS") and NatureScot on the reports provided by Seagreen Wind Energy Limited. MSS and NatureScot advised on the specifics of the noise monitoring carried out in respect of each clearance event with reference to National Physical Laboratory guidance; the mitigation implemented to reduce impacts to marine mammals and lessons learned that could be applied to future campaigns. Due to the small number of unexploded ordnance to be cleared, NatureScot advised that overall impacts from the clearance activity in terms of exposure to noise and behavioural disturbance were lower than predicted and well within the scope of the assessment submitted in support of the licence applications.

The local road network is the responsibility of local authorities and they will allocate resources on the basis of local priorities. The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

The overall funding package for local authorities of almost £12.7bn this year represents a rise of £1.06bn or 9.2% in cash terms, or 6.3% in real terms compared with 2021-22.

Falkirk Council are leading the delivery of the A801 Avon Gorge scheme, which will replace the Torphichen Bridge and are responsible, along with West Lothian Council, for ensuring that the business case remains robust and for setting the final timetable for delivery. The Scottish Government remains committed to funding its proposed 50% contribution towards the construction of the upgrade.

The number of passenger complaints received by ScotRail, through their official complaints process, is set out on the table below for the period 1 and 30 June 2022. The complaints may involve incidents that occurred before 1 June 2022.

The average recorded number of complaints per period for previous years is as follows:-

2019-2020 - 1,664 complaints

2018-2019 - 2,064 complaints

The figure for 1 April to 30 April 2022 is 1,144. The figure of 1,493 complaints for June 2022 is higher than April 2022 as during May and June 2022 several services were impacted due to driver shortages and the subsequent temporary timetable that was introduced on 23 May 2022. The temporary timetable that was in place until 20 July 2022 aimed to provide the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources.

ScotRail do not record staff complaints and therefore the information is not available.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Transport Scotland has now awarded a Multiple Supplier Framework Agreement for Maritime Consultancy Services. More information can be found on Public Contracts Scotland at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUN451348 .

The Scottish Ferries Plan, 2013-2022, which can be found at the following link, https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/scottish-ferry-services-ferries-plan-2013-2022/ provides, in Appendix 3, maps showing Scottish Government routes, Local Authority routes, private routes and other subsidy routes. In addition, Appendix 4 provides a complete table of all these routes and responsibilities.

At this time the work has been prioritised to support active live investment projects with the remaining work continuing throughout 2022 and into 2023.

The Scottish Government is prioritising those routes associated with live investment projects as set out in the answer to the question S6W-06702 on 8 March 2022, namely Mallaig – Lochboisdale Vessel Replacement Project, Oban – Craignure and Gourock – Dunoon – Kilcreggan. 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 have written to UK Ministers on 3 occasions regarding the impact of P&O Ferries actions, including asking UK Ministers to coordinate a 4 nations ministerial meeting to consider the wider implications in supply chain resilience and seafarer employment protection across the UK. UK Ministers have refused to do so.

As the member will know, disruption to the network in early 2022 linked directly to weather conditions and Covid impacts. Whilst no specific analysis of the financial and economic impacts from this ferry disruption on the Uist community has been undertaken, the Scottish Government recognises the impact these disruptions have on island life.

CalMac forms part of the local resilience partnership and prioritises the shipment of essential supplies during disruption to minimise welfare issues on the islands. Transport Scotland works with CalMac to monitor the impact of cancellations, listening to feedback directly from island communities and local resilience partnerships as well as transport operators.