Chamber and committees

Scotland’s landscape, flora and fauna are valuable niche markets within the tourism industry in Scotland. The industry-led tourism strategy “Tourism Scotland 2020” identifies “nature, heritage and activities” as one of four groups of key assets that the industry will use in targeting the markets that offer Scotland the greatest growth potential.

Recognising the importance of these assets, 2013 has been designated as our Year of Natural Scotland, a year in which we will celebrate Scotland's reputation as a place of outstanding natural beauty with a landscape and biodiversity to engage with and enjoy responsibly.

In the run up to, and during, the year we will focus on promoting the activities available in Scotland’s natural tourism attractions and will inspire the people of Scotland and our visitors to experience and participate in Scotland’s natural heritage at festivals and events, natural tourism attractions and outdoor locations.

There have been a number of contract variations made to the Public Service Contract between Scottish Ministers and Argyll Ferries Ltd since the contract commenced on 30 June 2011. These covered the deployment of a third vessel on Cowal Games Saturday in 2011 and 2012, timetable revision, vessel refit periods and the use of the timber pier at Dunoon. Consideration is being given to the publication of these amendments and Transport Scotland will be discussing this shortly with Argyll Ferries Ltd.

We have had no recent correspondence with the EU regarding the tendering process for the next Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract.

It is estimated that peat bog as identified by the James Hutton Institute covers around 60% of Scottish Natural Heritage’s search areas for wild land.

An outline of capital investment projects currently underway in the Highlands and Islands region which are funded or part funded by the Scottish Government are included in the following table. In addition there are a range of housing projects currently on site across the Highlands and Islands which are receiving Scottish Government funding.

All projects outlined are being funded by way of traditional capital or by revenue finance through non-profit distributing and hub.

Notes:

1. These schools form part of Phase 1 and 2 of the Scottish Government’s £1.25 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future School Building Programme.

2. These projects form part of the Scottish Government’s £105 million package of economic stimulus for this year which was announced on 27 June.

Work to develop the next Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is ongoing. However, proposals for agri-environment options will be consulted on next year, once the European Regulations have been finalised.

Although proposals for agri-environment options have not yet been presented, peat bogs are known to have the ability to play a role in addressing the priorities identified as part of the May 2012 engagement exercise with stakeholders.

Research is being carried out by the Forestry Commission’s research agency (Forest Research) into alternative management approaches, including the use of shelter wood or selection systems (otherwise known as continuous cover forestry, or CCF). This research is examining ways to adapt forests to increase their resilience to climate change, pests and diseases. Emerging conclusions are consistent with an earlier review “The evidence supporting the use of CCF in adapting Scotland’s forests to the risks of climate change” (Forest Research, 2009:

www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/CCF_and_Climate_Change_Report.pdf/$FILE/CCF_and_Climate_Change_Report.pdf) which noted that the development of more diverse forests is a sensible way to reduce risks and that this can be achieved using both even-aged management and CCF. However, in determining suitability for CCF, much depends upon the characteristics of individual sites and their management history. CCF can also have different impacts (positive and negative) on different pests and diseases.

Further evidence on the role of CCF in pest and disease management is being collated through long-term studies of a network of demonstration sites and at “research forests”, one of which (the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park) is in Scotland.

The Infrastructure Investment Plan published in December 2011 outlines the following major infrastructure investment projects in the pipeline for the Highlands and Islands:

Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements;

Highland Main Line Improvements;

Dualling of the A9;

A96 Upgrading;

A82 Improvements;

HMP Highland;

Development of Balfour Hospital and Kirkwall Dental Centre (NHS Orkney);

Day Services Centre, Raigmore Hospital (NHS Highland);

Scalloway Health Centre (NHS Shetland), and

St Brendan’s Hospital (NHS Western Isles).

Further information on Scottish Government priorities for investment and long term strategy for development of public infrastructure is contained in the Infrastructure Investment Plan which can be found at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/12/05141922/0.

Argyll Ferries Ltd is delivering the services specified in the Public Service Contract and are continuing to take steps to improve their operation.

The following table provides the level of (a) car, (b) passenger and (c) freight on CalMac services to Islay in each quarter of the last five years.