Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is committed to growing and diversifying Scotland's visitor economy, and also to ensuring places across the country can develop, manage and benefit from tourism effectively and responsibly.

In August 2023, I met with SkyeConnect to discuss a range of issues related to the local visitor economy. SkyeConnect have received public sector financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a range of destination development activities, including the development of a post-Covid recovery plan. HIE continue to offer practical support through their existing wide-range of client products and programmes.

In addition, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill would give councils the power to introduce a visitor levy in all or part of their area to raise funding for local tourism facilities and services. Before a visitor levy could be introduced a local authority will be required to consult with local businesses, communities and tourism organisations.

The Scottish Government would welcome any local tourism management plan that is in line with Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy.

The Scottish Government is committed to working collaboratively with partners on the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to reduce the significant harm caused by the illicit drugs trade to communities across Scotland.

We are also rolling out the Medication Assisted Treatment standards, which is a key component of our National Mission to reduce drug deaths and harm. These set out what people should expect from services, improvements to accessing services, choices of treatment options and wrap-around support for the people most at risk from drug harm and drug-related death.

The following tables set out how many Beaver licences were issued in the last five years; broken down by the (a) year issued, (b) category of the licence and (c) duration of the licence:

Transport Scotland’s Operating Company for the A83, BEAR Scotland, has recently carried out surveys on the road during very heavy rain conditions. During the severe weather event of 6th to 8th of October 2023, both Council maintained and Trunk roads were affected by landslides as well as localised flooding however there is no evidence to suggest the A83 is regularly restricted to single file traffic for any significant lengths of time. BEAR Scotland will continue to manage and maintain the A83 in accordance with Transport Scotland’s robust maintenance contracts.

This section of the A83, in common with the rest of the trunk road network, is subject to a variety of inspections and surveys. Weekly safety inspections are carried out to identify defects that represent an immediate hazard, which are then required to be repaired within specified timescales.

In some cases where no designed drainage system exists this will be considered as an improvement or vulnerable location scheme and prioritised accordingly. Interventions may include enhanced management and maintenance to physical intervention being carried out when funding is approved by Transport Scotland.

Cyclic maintenance is also undertaken annually to ensure that all drainage assets on the trunk road are clean and functioning to their maximum capacity. This includes cleaning gullies and manholes, re-cutting grips and jetting piped grips annually and harrowing filter drain material every three years.

The Isle of Skye remains one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations. The increase in traffic over the Skye Bridge, which is part of the A87 trunk road, is reflective of its continuing popularity and as a route for those travelling to the Western Isles and to the Island of Raasay by ferry.

This government recognises that increased traffic also creates challenges. That is why, along with maintaining and ensuring resilience of the trunk road, we are upgrading the A87/A855 junction in Portree. This aims to improve safety for all road users, with work due to commence in this financial year. More widely we are investing approximately £4.65 million in 2023-24 on maintaining the A87 trunk road, which includes the section from the Skye Bridge to the port of Uig.

Longer term, the second Strategic Transport Projects Review recommends that investment on the A87 and wider trunk road network is targeted at maintaining a network of roads which are safe, resilient and adapted to deal with the impacts of climate change.

Improvement to local roads and transport infrastructure remain the responsibility of the Highland Council.

Ministers are very clear about the importance of supporting ferry services, including those that link Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan.

The Gourock Dunoon Kilcreggan Infrastructure and Vessels Programme is complex and work is underway to develop resilient vessel and port design options. This work is linked to the wider Islands Connectivity Plan, which will set out a long-term investment programme for vessels and ports across our ferry network. Any investment in new vessels and infrastructure will be subject to consideration of a business case considering value for money and affordability.

The Scottish Government Brussels office was established in 1999 and staffing records covering the entirety of its existence are not held. The currently held information on staffing numbers, job titles and pay grade is outlined below.

1. Staffing numbers

18-19 – 16

19-20 – 17

20-21 – 17

22-23 – 17

23-24 - 17

2. Job titles and pay grade

Director

Deputy Director

Senior Policy Adviser Energy and Marine – SG A-C band*

Senior Policy Adviser Research and Innovation - SG A-C band

Senior Policy Adviser Trade, Economics and Inclusive Growth - SG A-C band

Head, International Justice Cooperation Unit - SG A-C band

Senior Policy Adviser Political, EU Institutions and Engagement - SG A-C band

Marine Planning and Strategy Manager - SG A-C band

EU Policy Officer - Trade & Economic Development - SG A-C band

Policy Adviser - Environment & Transport - SG A-C band

Policy and Communications Officer - SG A-C band

Events and Visits Manager - Country based staff (CBS) A-B band

Policy Officer: European Parliament and Bilateral - CBS A-B band

Executive Assistant to Director and Deputy Director - CBS Administrative Officer

Finance, Administrative Support Officer - CBS Administrative Officer

Corporate Services - CBS Administrative Officer

Policy and Communications Support Officer - CBS Intern

The staffing profile of the office has remained in place for the period covered by point 1), except for the addition of the 'EU Policy Officer - Trade & Economic Development' post in 2019-20.

* Please note we are unable to provide a small amount of the information you have requested relating to the specific pay grades of each member of staff. This information is personal data of a third party, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

The Scottish Government Office in Dublin has operated with 3 members of staff since its establishment in 2016.

Provided below are details of salary scale and job titles for Scotland House London from 2017-18:

The Scottish Government Office in Copenhagen has operated with 3 members of staff since its established in 2022.