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The Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) is designed to support the families of all babies, children and young people from birth to age 18 who require inpatient care in Scotland. Posters and leaflets to promote the Fund are available in every Health Board and we continue to work with all Boards to maximise awareness and promotion of the scheme.

The Managed Service Network for Children and Young People with Cancer (MSN CYPC) is currently reviewing its website and has confirmed that it intends to signpost to the YPFF in its update.

The Scottish Government wishes to see Scotland’s sea connections to Europe enhanced, and are happy to consider any approach for support. A new commercially viable and sustainable service would be of benefit to: those parts of industry where existing supply chains are not optimal; local economies; the selected Scottish port; and would provide some resilience for Scotland from any disruption at other UK ports.

Subsidy control rules limit possible funding for new international ferry services to start-up costs, so any attempt to enhance or add to existing international trading routes would require a commercial foundation. The Scottish Government offers a range of approved grants to encourage transport operators to move freight off road to other more sustainable forms of transport, including by sea.

The Scottish Government recognises the key role that the Scottish maritime sector plays in supporting the economic and social development of our Nation. The Scottish Government has committed to investing at least £580 million from 2021-2026 in lifeline vessels and ports, as part of its Infrastructure Investment Plan. This substantial funding will improve Scotland’s lifeline ferry services by delivering greater resilience to the network, supporting maritime employment across our islands and remote mainland communities.

The visit to the Port of Dunkirk was led by Forth Ports, DFDS and Ptarmigan Shipping, with Douglas Chapman MP also in attendance. The Scottish delegation was supported by Scottish Development International’s office in Paris. Whilst detail on seafarer employment issues was not discussed, the Scottish Government is keen to see maximum benefit derive to Scotland and its citizens from new ferry services to the Continent.

The Scottish Government want to see stronger direct shipping links between Scotland and the EU. A new freight and passenger service would provide increased resilience for exporters, as well as opportunities for inbound tourism and increased employment. However, the operation of a commercial ferry service, including crewing arrangements, is the responsibility of the commercial operator whilst ensuring compliance with the relevant employment legislation and standards.

The external costs associated with the production and publication of the Building a New Scotland paper, ‘Migration to Scotland after independence’, are set out in the following table:

There were 16* detected firework related crimes in Scotland in October 2023. As of 15 November there has been 22* detected firework related crimes for November 2023. This figure is expected to rise as Police Scotland continue their investigations.

This compares with 6* detected firework related crimes in October 2022. And 33* from November 2022.

*Please note that this figure includes both arrested or charged individuals.

Officials at Transport Scotland are currently engaging with British Transport Police, ScotRail, Scottish Rail Holdings, Transport Focus and Trade Unions, amongst other organisations, to ensure that all views on continuing alcohol ban on ScotRail trains are given due consideration and all impacts, including antisocial behaviour, assessed.

Four of the six key provisions in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 have been implemented to date.

The prohibition on supply to children came into effect on 10 October 2022 alongside the aggravation of offences for emergency workers. New offences relating to pyrotechnic articles in public places and at designated venues and events came into force on 6 June 2023, and firework control zones provisions commenced on 22 June 2023. For the remaining measures:

• Our ambition is to have the firework licensing scheme operational ahead of Bonfire Night next year. A specific date has not yet been identified for this.
• The implementation of the restricted days of supply and use provisions is paused to a future financial year. This includes the compensation regulation making power, which is attached specifically to restricted days of supply.

Police Scotland are the lead delivery partner for Digital Evidence Sharing Capability (DESC) and are responsible for planning and milestone management. DESC roll out is currently expected to start in early 2024.

The full implementation cost for Digital Evidence Sharing Capability is £33 Million over a 10-year period which is detailed in the full business case. This figure includes supplier costs, storage, and resources from justice partners. DESC will deliver considerable savings of time and cost in the way that evidence is managed and used.

As noted in the answer to S6W-21903, ferry operators are responsible for crewing arrangements whilst complying with the appropriate employment legislation and standards. Shipping safety and seafarer welfare and employment conditions are matters reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government does not have powers over employment conditions for seafarers.

The Scottish Government expects the highest shipping safety and crew welfare and employment conditions to be observed by those vessels and for those crew working in Scottish waters. International ferry services can often have skilled crew from around the world, and not domiciled in the UK. However the UK Seafarers Act ensures crew will be entitled to National Minimum Wage equivalent whilst working in Scottish waters.