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The Routes and Services Methodology (RSM) used in the Ferries Plan has been reviewed and updated to support the preparation of the Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP). In addition to refreshing data sources it will also consider: reliability and resilience; capacity and connectivity; and wider socio-economic needs and alignment with the National Transport Strategy and the National Islands Plan.

The Scottish Government announced investment of £580m in ports and vessels to support and improve Scotland’s ferry services, as part of our wider five year Infrastructure Investment Plan, in February 2021. This investment is in addition to the delivery of MV Glen Sannox and Hull 801 which are currently under construction at Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow. Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-2022 to 2025-2026

On new vessel procurement, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has progressed two projects. The most advanced of these is the Islay vessel procurement. CMAL is currently assessing bids submitted by the four shipyards who met the initial assessment criteria. The contract award is expected to be made by the end of March 2022, subject to agreeing suitable terms, with anticipated vessel delivery dates around late 2024 for vessel 1 and early to mid 2025 for vessel 2. The second vessels project, which is currently at its early stages, is phase one of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP), considering up to seven new vessels for Clyde and Hebrides services. Design development is underway with potential vessel delivery from late 2025.

A number of infrastructure upgrade projects are currently in the design and construction stages to support the arrival of new tonnage to the fleet and the associated cascade redeployment impact of these new vessels. For example, infrastructure upgrade works at Uig (Skye) will replace life expired infrastructure and improve the capacity, reliability and resilience for the longer term benefit of the Skye Triangle routes; and works are well underway at Troon to facilitate the use of the port during the construction period at Ardrossan and to allow its use as an alternative mainland port during any periods of disruption on the network.

I include a list of “Live projects” below with expected completion dates currently ranging between 2023 to 2028. All completion dates for these and any future projects remain subject to funding; procurement and contractor award. Some projects also may feel the impact on any changes to the Vessel procurement programmes and any subsequent associated vessel cascades.

Lochboisdale/Gasay Infrastructure project

Islay Vessel Enabling :

Kennacraig

Port Ellen Terminal Development Project

Port Askaig in Islay

Colonsay

Gourock/Dunoon/Kilcreggan Vessels- power supplies and associated works

Skye Triangle :

Tarbert Terminal Building

Lochmaddy infrastructure works

Uig infrastructure works

Craignure-Oban (Mull) New Vessel project

The Scottish Government does not currently have infrastructure or vessel design contracts with either company; Mott MacDonald or BMT; that is overseen or is directly managed by Transport Scotland, however both companies are used by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as part of their Professional Consultancy Services Framework.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) awarded a £155,000 contract to international design and engineering firm BMT to provide consultancy services for the concept design of a new passenger ferry for the Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan routes as part of the Gourock Dunoon Kilcreggan Infrastructure and Vessels Programme.

Following a public sector procurement process, in August 2020, CMAL appointed engineering firm Mott MacDonald to draw up high-level options for the redevelopment of Gourock harbour.

Mott MacDonald was also awarded a £1.5 million contract which covers design consultancy services for vessel enabling works at Port Ellen and Port Askaig in Islay, Kennacraig and Colonsay.

Further details of these projects can be found here - CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets LtdHome - CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (cmassets.co.uk) .

We aim to publish a draft of the Islands Connectivity Plan for consultation by the end of the 2022.

The Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce funded a project through Stirling University to research and develop the key components required to implement Drug Checking facilities. Research began in January 2021 and will conclude with an evaluation report in January 2023.

Home office licenses must be granted before project teams can implement Drug Checking facilities.

The project team from Glasgow plan to submit their license to the Home Office by the end of April 2022.

The project team from NHS Grampian plan to submit their license for a drug checking facility in Aberdeen to the Home Office by the end of June 2022.

Over the course of this parliament the Scottish Government has committed £100 million to support further investment in residential rehabilitation and associated aftercare. We aim to increase the number of publicly funded placements by more than 300 per cent over the five years of the programme so that, by 2026, at least 1,000 people every year are publicly funded for their rehab placement.

In order to facilitate this increase we are working to increase capacity by 50% which is an increase from 425 beds to 650 beds. As well as increasing funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships allocated for residential rehab and developing more standardised commissioning processes we have made national investment in expanding capacity through the Recovery Fund.

The Scottish Government has provided the funding needed to increase capacity for residential rehab, however we cannot allocate beds to any specific individual or age group. This is the responsibility of Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and residential rehabilitation providers, who have the necessary expertise for deciding referrals, assessments of suitability and admissions to their facilities on a case by case basis.

We have set up a multi-agency working group focused specifically on improving services for young people. This group will engage with a range of young people to better understand their alcohol/drug use and their preferences for support, and their work will shape how we improve the provision and access to age appropriate treatment and support services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government asked Andrew Horne, Chief Executive of We Are With You Scotland, to chair a multi-agency working group focusing specifically on improving drug treatment services for young people.

The purpose of the group is to set clear expectations for the delivery of treatment support to children and young people who experience problem alcohol and drug use.

To date, the group have sourced statistical data which will be used to shape how we improve the provision and access to drug and/or alcohol treatment and support services. The group will work towards establishing Standards for Young People’s Alcohol and Drug Services in order to provide consistency in quality across Scotland. The group will also consider residential rehabilitation provision as part of their work to develop these standards. However, residential rehabilitation is just one aspect of a recovery oriented system of care, and the group will also look to develop a comprehensive approach to early intervention for young people which is focused on supporting children and young people to access support that is age-appropriate and in their own community so that, where possible, they can remain with their families.

Ensuring paths and pavements are clear and accessible for all’ is a key objective within our Accessible Travel Framework and a current priority in our Annual Delivery Plan . The Scottish Government continues to work collaboratively with a range of different organisations, including local authorities, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) and disabled people’s organisations, on improving accessibility of streetscapes.

In relation to use of dropped kerbs and tactile paving, the Scottish Government is currently developing co-produced guidance on inclusive design in town centres and busy street areas in Scotland. The guidance, which will soon go to public consultation, is aimed at project commissioners, designers and members of the public to support the inclusive design and engagement processes that deliver accessible town centre and busy street environments for everyone.

Anyone concerned about the standard of care provided by a registered service can raise a complaint with the Care Inspectorate, the independent scrutiny and improvement body for social care and social work across Scotland. The Care Inspectorate have a statutory duty to deal with complaints made about registered care services, including private care homes. Complaints upheld are published on the Care Inspectorate’s website.

Since May 2020, the Scottish Government has invested over £48 million in our Connecting Scotland programme, which provides people on low incomes with a device, connection with unlimited data for two years, as well as training and support. Since programme launch 60,000 digitally excluded people in total have been brought online. We are now working on an extension to the programme to reach 300,000 people by the end of this Parliament.

The programme is part of our wider package of support to help everyone in Scotland benefit fully from the advantages of the digital world – from broadband connectivity to digital skills training and support for schools and business.