Chamber and committees

Yes, a review was completed earlier this year and the report passed to the Community Council on the 27 July. The results indicate that the provision proposed by Network Rail is appropriate. Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the location in terms of road safety and pedestrians crossing, especially with the future increase in train services, to ensure that the provision for pedestrians and cyclists remains appropriate.

The Scottish Government has no plans to measure the effects of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the welfare of spaniel and hunt point retriever types dogs.

The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the number of spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies that have their tails shortened under the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.

The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the evidence relied on by veterinary surgeons as proof that spaniel and hunt point retriever type puppies presented to them for tail shortening under the terms of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 are genuinely intended for work in connection with field sports.

The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor the effect of the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 on the number of tail injuries to adult working spaniel and hunt point retriever type dogs.

This is the first year of operation for Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management), following devolution on 1 April 2017. One of its primary goals is to prepare the organisation to respond to Scottish Ministers’ long term objectives for the management of Crown Estate assets in Scotland. The centre of operations is Edinburgh with staff also based in Moray at Glenlivet and Fochabers, and there are no current plans for change.

A new framework is being developed for the long term management of Crown Estate assets in Scotland, with discussions ongoing about potential pilot schemes, and any staffing issues will need to be considered carefully.

On 7 November 2016, there was a meeting on this issue, which included David Stewart MSP and the Community Council. At that meeting, Transport Scotland – the Scottish Government’s national transport agency - indicated that it was unlikely that Network Rail would provide an upgrade of the existing crossing provision as there was substantially no change to the current situation. However, to address the community's concerns, Transport Scotland committed at the meeting to check if the crossing provision was adequate. This assessment has recently been completed and the results indicate that the provision proposed by Network Rail is appropriate. Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the location in terms of road safety and pedestrians crossing, especially with the future increase in train services, to ensure that the provision for pedestrians and cyclists remains appropriate.

As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment within the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, significant investment of up to £109m will be made by the Scottish Government in the trunk road network to deliver the grade separation of the A9/A82 Longman Roundabout and the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton Link Road to improve congestion and accessibility to Inverness. The Scottish Government will continue to work in collaboration with The Highland Council whilst taking these schemes forward.

Design work is due to commence later this summer on the grade separation of the busy A9/A82 Longman Roundabout, south of Kessock Bridge, following the appointment of a design consultant who will look at options for improving this well-known traffic bottleneck in Inverness.

It is expected that the options assessment process will take approximately
15-18 months to complete following the appointment of a design consultant. Thereafter the preferred junction option will be developed and assessed in greater detail leading to publication of draft Orders for formal comment. Construction of the scheme itself can only commence if the scheme is approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set.

There is currently no plan for increasing the number of radars in Scotland. However there is an on-going weather radar network renewal project. This major investment by the Met Office in the radar network will enhance the capability of existing radars.

Two of the four radar in Scotland were upgraded in 2014 - Hill of Dudwick in Aberdeenshire and Holehead in Stirlingshire. The upgrade of the two remaining radars at Munduff Hill in Kinross and Isle of Lewis are being carried out currently and I can confirm completion for these is due by the end of November 2017.

As I set out in my answer of 6 June, the UK, as the European Union Member State, is responsible for notifying the exemption to the European Commission.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Government to progress the notification to the European Commission. I had further discussions with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 21 June and with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (FST), the UKG Minister responsible for UK Air Passenger Duty, on 6 July to underline the need to progress this matter urgently. I wrote to the FST to confirm the points raised in our discussion and to emphasise the importance of ensuring the competent transfer of the tax from the UK to the Scottish Government.

I will continue to keep the Scottish Parliament informed on progress.