Chamber and committees

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) won the contract for the Provision of Displaced Persons Crisis Travel Management 2, through fair and open competition. Due to the urgency of the requirement, the Scottish Government utilised the Crown Commercial Services framework to allow for accommodation, travel, venue and ancillary booking services to be provided in support of the response to crisis management in relation to Displaced Persons. The Framework was awarded by Crown Commercial Services who published an Invitation to Tender to invite bids. This was a single supplier framework and the Service Provider, CTM, waived their management fee due to the humanitarian nature of the requirement.

As set out in the joint Bidding Prospectus, all green port bidders were required to ensure that their proposal embedded the second National Transport Strategy vision, priorities and outcomes for the transport system with in it as well as ensuring alignment with regional and local transport strategies.

Following selection there will of course be intensive discussions with each of the successful designations on all aspects of their proposals.

The Scottish Government has had no formal discussions with private operators on this matter since 2016.

I have discussed this with stakeholders over the summer and CalMac has been asked to investigate options to consider how there can be greater access for 'Islands Essential Travel' for those who need to make bookings at shorter notice. We will need to carefully consider any system and look to mitigate any unintended consequences.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10694 on 27 September 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

Questions S6W-11074 - 77 are operational matters for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and I have asked Stuart Black, HIE’s Chief Executive to respond directly. I have also provided detail below which I hope the member will find helpful.

The agency's statutory functions are laid out under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (the Act). It fulfils a series of financial duties and other functions, under Section 24 of the Act. It also operates under a range of general and specific powers, set out in full in Section 8 of the Act.

HIE is required to follow guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds, as detailed in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM). This includes its duty to focus its activities to deliver Best Value. The SPFM is also clear that guidance in HM Treasury’s Green Book has been adopted by the Scottish Government and applies to all organisations to which the SPFM is directly applicable.

HIE operates a number of funding schemes for which companies and other organisations can apply. For one-off and bespoke support, HIE’s process is aligned to treasury appraisal principles with market failure being a key consideration for all funding decisions. Any support provided by the Scottish Government and its associated public bodies must be contingent upon completion of satisfactory due diligence as required by the Borrowing, Lending & Investment section of the SPFM. This would require a robust business case. Prior to any investment, all other avenues of finance should have been explored and the additionality of HIE’s intervention confirmed. This includes availability of other government schemes, financing options and private sector support. Any investment should also consider Government or public sector support already being provided to the business.

HIE does not exclude companies or organisations that have submitted complaints. Its funding is discretionary and decisions are supported by proportionate appraisal aligned to Treasury guidance and Best Value characteristics.

Discussions with the Chair of the Ferries Community Board remain ongoing to develop the scope of work to be undertaken. I will next meet with the Chair on Wednesday 5 th October.

With the exception of two additional MSPs being invited to the Taskforce meeting on 29 September 2022, there has been no changes to the recent core attendee list.

I agreed at the last Taskforce meeting on 29 September to increase the frequency of meetings to three times per year, the next Taskforce meeting will be held January 2023, after the medium term proposals have been announced. In relation to the suggestion to appoint an independent chair I put it to the Taskforce members for discussion and it was agreed at the meeting I would chair the Taskforce meetings going forward.

The Scottish Government will not collect any monies as a result of Low Emission Zone enforcement. Any funds received by the relevant local authority will be ring fenced for LEZ enforcement system running costs, and/or air quality improvement works. The penalty charge structure of the LEZs has been designed to deter entry by non-compliant vehicles, in addition, a grace period has been included so that members of the public have time to familiarise themselves with LEZs and how they might impact their lives and travel habits. To help with this, we have launched a national website and a targeted marketing campaign. We anticipate that this will result in fewer fines being issued.

Any period of disruption will be considered on a case by case basis.