Chamber and committees

The Independent External View of Skye, Lochalsh and South-West Ross Report written by Sir Lewis Ritchie contained 15 recommendations. Progress has been made on most of the recommendations, including preservation of in-patient bed provision at Portree Hospital, increasing Scottish Ambulance Service capacity, restoring sustainable out of hours care to the communities of Raasay and Glenelg & Arnisdale and promoting digital innovation - the SkyeLab* project.

24/7 urgent care provision at Portree Hospital was partially suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 and then fully suspended in 2022, because of severe staff shortages. Workforce recruitment and retention issues continue to be a challenge for all health services, something which is not just felt in the Highlands and Islands but across the UK. Partial restoration of the out of hours (OOH) service at Portree Hospital began on 9 January 2023 with weekend and public holiday opening 9am-6pm. In 2022, Sir Lewis Ritchie made two visits to Skye (in May and November) to assess progress, a further visit is planned for later in 2023.

Scottish Ministers have no locus in this decision. Transport links across the Corran Narrows are wholly the responsibility of The Highland Council and, as such, any decision to replace ferries or deliver a fixed link (including funding of this) would be a matter for the Local Authority. Therefore, the Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific consultation regarding future transport options for Corran Narrows.

The Scottish Government recently completed a national review of future transport infrastructure. The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was an example of effective collaboration with stakeholders and the public. It included a considerable programme of engagement activities at a national and regional level with participation from local residents and business owners at various points throughout the process, including within the Lochaber area.

The Scottish Government has engaged with The Highland Council during the previous appraisal work carried out by HITRANS, on behalf of the Council, which considered a range of options for the Corran Narrows. We are aware the Council is now pursuing an upgrade to the existing ferries, but maintain a longer term aspiration for a fixed link connection across Loch Linnhe.

The Highland Council was part of regional working group which helped to inform the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. During this time, the transport options for the Corran Narrows was raised by the Council. However, ferry services and their replacement were not within the scope of that national review.

The health and social care staff wellbeing programme started in 2020 – 21. Prior to this, it did not have a dedicated budget.

In 2020 – 21 we spent £5 million. In 2021 – 22 we spent £12 million. The 2021- 22 spend was much higher due to additional Covid consequentials funding that is no longer available.

Last year I announced plans to hold a National Rail Conversation with the people of Scotland to seek their views on passenger rail services provided by Scotrail and the Caledonian Sleeper. The National Rail Conversation will also engage the views of regional transport partnerships, rail unions, local authorities, equalities groups, businesses, emergency services and rail industry organisations – as well as non-rail users – for their input in to the vision for rail services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s railway for the future. It needs to be affordable; accessible; sustainable; offer fair and secure employment, and provide a safe environment for all who travel and work across it, now and in the future. It is also an important component of our public transport system, offering an alternative to car use, and is key to cutting transport emissions, and achieving our Net Zero ambitions.

There will be two key areas of focus for the conversation:

1. A series of stakeholder meetings, hosted by the Scottish Government, to discuss all aspects of rail passenger services. These events will take place over the next few months and stakeholders will be contacted shortly.

2. An extensive public engagement campaign aimed at giving as many people as possible the chance to have their say on the future of rail. It’s important that we hear from as many people as possible, including those who currently do not travel by rail.

Further details of both of these strands will be provided when I formally launch the National Rail Conversation in April, marking the one year anniversary of ScotRail coming in to public ownership.

When ScotRail came into public ownership the Scottish Government was clear: this would be a new beginning for our railways with a new guiding vision. My resolve remains on creating real opportunities to deliver a railway run for the benefit of its customers, staff and stakeholders. Through the National Rail Conversation, we will listen to feedback from passengers and stakeholders and shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland.

I am pleased to confirm that we have today published a package of announcements to provide information and financial certainty farmers and crofters need to help them prepare for the change necessary to deliver the ambitious aims set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. Links are available here:

• New payment for farmers to improve animal health and welfare launched under Preparing for Sustainable farming ;
• Route Map for agricultural reform ;
• Guidance on the list of the measures being considered and evaluated for inclusion for future agriculture support in Scotland ;
• Full 2023 Payment Strategy timetable ;
• Opening of a new round of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) .

NHS Lothian has made significant progress with regards to the BAA recommendations, they have provided sufficient assurance through evidence of significant progress against the plan, improved governance and culture, and sustainable changes that NHS Lothian will be de-escalated to Stage 2 in the first instance with continued support and monitoring from SG.

This information is not held centrally. Local authorities and integrated health and social care partnerships are responsible for commissioning services for people within their area.

As a result of the pressures that household budgets are under the Scottish Government confirmed last year that there would be no change to rail fares before March 2023. Any change to rail fares this year will be confirmed in due course but Scottish Ministers are very clear that they will not rise by an amount equivalent to the July Retail Price Index rate of 12.3 per cent.

As part of the Scottish Government’s fair fares review Transport Scotland will take forward the pilot to evaluate the removal of peak rail fares. The pilot will apply to the whole network for the six-month period, commencing in the next financial year. Work on the precise methodology, design and evaluation is ongoing with Transport Scotland officials working closely with Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail Trains Ltd to derive maximum benefit for this scheme.

Further details on the peak fares pilot will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

I am advised by Transport Scotland that CalMac Ferries informed West Coast Motors, who operate the bus service on Mull, of their revised timetable for the Oban-Craignure route on 29 December 2022. A revised bus timetable was implemented by West Coast Motors between 31 December 2022 and 8 January 2023 allowing ferry connections.