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There are currently no plans to introduce a “Climate Change Business Bill” within the current parliamentary session.

The Scottish Government has not provided direct or specific funding for businesses damaged by Storm Arwen.

I appreciate that the aftermath of Storm Arwen will have created difficult operating conditions for affected businesses. Information on available business support offered by public sector organisations can be found at the Find Business Support website - https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/

Following Storm Arwen, the Scottish Government activated the Bellwin Scheme to provide additional revenue support to local authorities to assist with immediate and unforeseen costs that meet the scheme’s qualifying criteria.

For the 2021-22 tax year, the Scottish Fiscal Commission forecast that there will be 417,800 Scottish taxpayers in the Higher Rate band, and 18,000 in the Top Rate band.

The existing Uig-Tarbert ferry timetable will be maintained in 2022, with formalised deployment of the mezzanine decks to ensure the timetable can be delivered within the operational challenges. We have asked CalMac to continue to closely monitor the route and maximise the use of space on the vessel.

CalMac has revised the initial proposals and these represent the best available options to maximise capacity on the Skye Triangle routes for Summer 2022.

The planned upgrade of Uig Harbour by The Highland Council is required to ensure continuity of ferry services to Harris. The closure is essential to allow major investment in replacing life expired infrastructure and improving the resilience of Uig harbour for the benefit of the Skye Triangle routes. This follows the significant recent investment in the upgrade of Tarbert harbour on Harris. The works have been scheduled out with seasonal peaks, however we regret any associated disruption.

CalMac recently undertook community consultation, including at Tarbert (Harris) Community Centre, on plans to introduce an alternative ferry service while work at Uig is underway. The consultation closed on 7 January and community feedback will be presented to Transport Scotland and Scottish Ministers for careful consideration prior to any final decision on this matter.

Doorstep cold calling can create anxiety for householders, especially vulnerable householders. It is important that advice is available for those who may be concerned about doorstep cold calling.

The regulation of doorstep cold calling falls within general consumer protection policy with specific policy responsibility being part of the operation of trading standards which rests with the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Trading Standards Scotland (TSS), the national organisation for trading standards in Scotland, is funded by BEIS and managed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The TSS website provides a range of helpful guidance on how best householders can address concerns about doorstep cold calling. http://www.tsscot.co.uk/priority-areas/doorstep-scammers/

Within this context, decisions about further regulation of doorstep cold calling would fall to the UK Government to consider.

For the 2022-23 tax year, the Scottish Fiscal Commission forecast that there will be 452,600 Scottish taxpayers in the Higher Rate band, and 19,500 in the Top Rate band.

COSLA recommended to Scottish Ministers that the flood protection schemes eligible for funding in the Flood Risk Management Strategies published in December 2015 which are not yet “legally committed” are to be paused and reviewed. Ministers accepted this recommendation and a review of these projects is being undertaken to assess their status and viability. COSLA will present the review findings to Ministers in due course. This pause and review of schemes is one element of the work being taken forward to review the current funding and distribution arrangements for flood risk management. The Scottish Government has not currently suspended any expenditure on the flooding programme.

The Scottish Government continues to prioritise funding for flood risk management. The flooding budget is increasing by 70% from £210 million to £360 million over the next 5 years. Local authorities are responsible for commissioning and delivering flood protection schemes. In recognition of the importance of reducing flood risk the Scottish Government has provided, since 2007, a total of £42 million a year through the general capital grant to local authorities to allow them to invest in flood protection schemes.

Regulations amending the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 were made today.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No.2) Regulations 2022 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the principal regulations”) and will take effect on 24 January 2022.

The Amendment Regulations remove the capacity limits for live events held indoors and the definition of a live event.

The regulations also remove the requirement to take measures to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that a distance of 1 metre is maintained between people on or waiting to enter hospitality and leisure premises and that only enough people are admitted to the premises to allow the 1 metre distance to be maintained.

The regulations remove the requirement for table service in premises where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises, and that the customer must remain seated whilst consuming food and drink on the premises.

The regulations also remove the requirement for the closure of nightclubs to members of the public and amend the definition of ‘late night premises’ in the Principal Regulations in relation to the certification requirements.

The Regulations have been published at www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2022/13/contents/made

The First Minister announced on 17 December that funding will be made available to businesses in the food and drink chain supply chain, including food and drink wholesalers, who were affected by hospitality cancellations as a result of the additional public health measures introduced in December.

We are in the process of developing funding criteria and guidance in collaboration with the Scottish Wholesale Association, and we will ensure this information is publicised widely as soon as we can so that businesses can consider whether they may be eligible to apply.

As Alasdair Allan is aware, since becoming Transport Minister, I have been determined to ensure the views, knowledge and experience of island residents informs the delivery of ferry and other relevant transport services. I am clear that I would very much favour an island-based presence on the boards of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and David MacBrayne Ltd. I understand the disappointment that the most recent round of appointments did not address such concerns therefore I have tasked the new Chair of the David MacBrayne board with exploring how we might achieve this, as one of his first priorities.