Chamber and committees

113 paramedics will be recruited as a result of the investment of £45 million by the Scottish Government, as outlined in the Winter Resilience Plan.

The Emergency Budget Review identified the additional costs of respective pay offers and deals for certain workforces, estimating that the total additional cost reflecting offers at the time was over £700 million. The exact costs will be finalised as pay deals are concluded.

Despite the area of telecommunications being wholly reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Government has asked BT and EE to do all it can to resolve the matter on Uig as quickly as possible, given the vital importance of reliable digital connectivity for island communities.

The R100 contracts will deliver a significant number of full fibre connections which will provide future proofed, resilient connectivity for decades to come. The R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme is also available to those who are unable to access a superfast connection currently, and who are not in commercial or R100 contract build plans, offering up to £5,000 to secure a superfast broadband connection.

CMAL will only accept the vessels if they are fit for purpose. The vessel will not be able to enter service until it has received all clearances required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Class society approval from Lloyds Register.

The report of analysis of responses to the consultation draft National Planning Framework 4 was published on 8 November 2022 and is available from the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-fourth-national-planning-framework-analysis-responses-consultation-exercise-analysis-report/ .

The Scottish Government regularly engages with universities on matters impacting the sector.

Whilst the reinstatement of the Graduate Route in 2021 was welcomed, it remains clear that the UK Government’s immigration policy does not address Scotland’s economic, demographic and social needs.

In absence of a UK Government equivalent, the Scottish Government is developing, and seeks to pilot, a student retention programme, aiming to reduce the flow of students outside Scotland once they have completed further/higher education.

The Scottish Government strongly opposes the immigration health surcharge (IHS) and believes it should be removed, despite receiving £20.8 million in Barnett consequentials from it in 2018. Increasing the surcharge to £624 in 2018, more than three times the cost, was morally wrong.

The Scottish Government remains deeply concerned that multiple unnecessary immigration charges could make Scotland a less attractive destination for skilled workers and international students and impact student retention rates on the Graduate visa. Scottish Ministers have, and will continue to push the UK Government for an immigration system that meets Scotland’s needs

CMAL previously advised that achieving the deadweight as per the contract was a risk. However Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow now has a better weight prediction for the vessels. Speed prediction was measured at model tests and sea trials are planned for April 2023. Fuel consumption was measured at the engine factory acceptance test and according to specification.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-12057 on 24 November 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 .

The information asked for is not fully available at this time. The Scottish Government intends to issue a proactive release on its attendance and expenses incurred.