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The Gourock – Dunoon ferry service was incorporated into the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network from 21 January 2019 and therefore integrated as part of the monthly subsidy paid to the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL). The subsidy is not split out on a route by route basis.

The Gourock - Kilcreggan service, was operated by Clyde Marine Services (CMS) on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership Transport (SPT) until 31 May 2020 when it transferred into the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service (CHFS) contract.

No formal consultation by (a) Transport Scotland and (b) ScotRail took place with (i) workers and (ii) unions before the temporary timetable was implemented. ScotRail utilised the time available to them, during this challenging period, to compile the temporary timetable which is aimed at providing the best possible service to as many passengers as possible with the available resources. The major determining factor is driver availability by rostered hours, location and with the necessary competencies, which fluctuates daily.

Transport Scotland has not held any discussions with (a) ScotRail and (b) NHS Highland regarding how to ensure that people living outside of the Inverness area are able to travel to medical appointments by public transport without requiring an overnight stay.

The £1 million International Students’ Emergency Fund announced on 14 April was introduced to support international students who had already chosen to study a course of Further or Higher Education in Scotland who were facing financial hardship as a result of a significant change in circumstances, such as but not limited to global conflict. These funds are administered directly by Scottish colleges and universities so could not be used to support students who are studying remotely with a university out with Scotland.

Scottish domiciled students who are studying via distance learning are considered for funding purposes as part-time students reflecting the fact that students undertaking part-time or distance learning courses are generally more likely to be able to support their studies through some form of paid employment or will be entitled to support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

We are aware that some Ukrainian nationals who are now resettled in Scotland who are continuing studies with a Ukrainian intuitions remotely studying remotely with their Ukrainian university may be unable to access financial support that other Ukrainian nationals are due to their being categorised as full-time students by the DWP.

We consider that Ukrainian students who are studying via distance learning at a Ukrainian institution should be treated in the same fashion as Scottish domiciled students. Accordingly, I have written to the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to urge her to review the DWP position.

We also continue to consider how we might be able to provide further support for Ukrainian nationals studying in Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-08835 on 17 June 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

No assessment has been made if the impact on business revenues in the Highlands as a result of ScotRail’s temporary timetable.

We do recognise that the current temporary timetable is causing inconvenience and frustration to travellers, especially to people who need early and late services to get to and from work, and those sectors and businesses in the economy that depend on people being able to travel in the evenings. However, ScotRail conducted its formal review on 3 June and as a result, more services particularly in the evenings are now being added back into the timetable. In addition with the positive progress made on pay negotiations with ASLEF in Scotland, it is to be hoped more services will be added back in the near future.

Many local authorities across Scotland already discourage smoking near children’s play areas and near schools. We are currently refreshing our Tobacco Action Plan and considering, among other initiatives, the introduction of nationwide bans on smoking in these areas and will learn from experiences in countries like Wales, where this has already been implemented .

We are currently refreshing our Tobacco Action Plan and considering a range of evidence-based interventions. One of the actions we are considering within the next Tobacco Action Plan is to introduce more ‘SmokeFree’ spaces. This could include beaches, amusement parks, playgrounds, hospitality venues etc. The addition of these measures, would not only reduce the prevalence of the use of tobacco products in these areas, but would also reduce the visibility, and impact of single-use plastics such as cigarette butts on the environment.

The Scottish Government are also currently running a call for evidence on single-use food containers and other single-use items, including single-use plastic tobacco filters. This call for evidence will be used to gather evidence on a selection of single-use items used in Scotland to aid future decision making on actions that could be taken to reduce the impact they have on the Scottish environment.

The Scottish Government/COSLA See Hear strategy expresses the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting children and adults who have sight loss/visual impairment, deafness and dual sensory loss to access the services and social care they need. The strategy presents a framework for actions which includes emphasis on children and young people with a sensory loss receiving appropriate and timely intervention in the early years and for as long as is required.

The Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People (VINCYP) aims to improve the care for children and young people with a visual impairment. VINCYP involves professionals working in local authorities (education and social work), health, parents/carers of children and young people with a visual impairment and voluntary sector organisations, and has local implementation groups in addition to the national network.

VINCYP has developed a Pathway of Care and related standards, self-assessment frameworks and good practice guidelines to ensure that children and young people with a visual impairment are provided with effective support as early as possible.

VINCYP does not provide Visual Impairment (VI) services in Scotland and has no role in the outsourcing of services. The VINCYP pathway and standards highlight the services which are required for children and young people with VI and their families in each local authority area. VINCYP could offer specialist advice for local authority commissioners on service specifications for outsourcing services, but cannot offer advice on particular providers.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 requires education authorities to identify, provide for, and review the additional support needs of their pupils. This includes support for children and young people with visual impairments. Other agencies, health and social work services can be asked to help identify needs and provide support under the Act. The statutory code of practice sets out guidance for authorities and partners on the requirements of the Act.

The Scottish Government also funds the Scottish Sensory Centre and CALL Scotland to provide advice and training to school staff on support, including the use of assistive technology, for children and young people with specific communication and sensory needs.

There is no formal definition of an NDA and the government does not hold central records of NDAs. In an employment context where a settlement agreement is entered into to resolve an employment dispute, a confidentiality clause may be inserted following prescribed guidance on information sharing. This guidance is clear that the use of a settlement agreement cannot prevent Audit Scotland from carrying out their oversight and scrutiny functions.