Chamber and committees

11 projects are being funding through the Islands Programme this financial year. These include a new visitor centre and electric vehicle charging points at Old Man of Storr, nine ‘Island Pit Stops’ at Arran and Cumbrae with better facilities for visitors, a new nursery at Kirkwall to replace an existing building earmarked for demolition and improvement of critical sea front infrastructure at Tobermory. The 11 projects funded by the 2022-23 Islands Programme are:

1. Island Community Halls Digital Hubs, £100,000. Coll, Iona, Islay and Tiree.

2. Tobermory Seawall and Railings Improvements, £250,000. Mull.

3. Ionad Hiort – RIBA Stage 4 design fees, £167,000. Lewis. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

4. Community Facilities Programme – Uist, £347,781. Berneray, North Uist, Eriskay.

5. Old Surgery Housing Enablement, £72,000. Eigg.

6. The Old Man of Storr, £440,000. Skye.

7. Regeneration of Millport Town Hall – phase 2, £509,450. Cumbrae.

8. Island Pit Stops, £540,000. Arran and Cumbrae.

9. New Kirkwall Nursery, £1,500,000. Mainland Orkney.

10. Aald Skul Enterprise Development £88,095. Mainland Shetland.

11. Papa Stour Kirk Development £252,505. Papa Stour. Shetland Islands Council.

This data is not held by the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of Registered Social Landlords to ensure that their housing stock is safe. However, we are funding RSLs who are participating in the Single Building Assessment Programme and will continue to do so.

Scotland stands with the rest of the UK, Europe and the world in condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is a nation with a rich cultural heritage, and it is of vital importance that this is protected for future generations – which includes working closely with artists and cultural organisations. That is why I recently took part in the Edinburgh International Culture Summit’s Cultural Leadership Dialogue, which brought together political and cultural leaders from countries who share a strong interest in supporting Ukrainian cultural colleagues and institutions affected by the invasion of their country, to consider practical steps for action. The Scottish Government also provided £75,000 to support the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, comprised of more than 70 displaced Ukrainian musicians, to play a free concert at the Edinburgh International Festival, with special invites extended to the Ukrainian community in Scotland and organisations leading efforts in the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees.

Budgets have been realigned to take into account the updated plan agreed between the Scottish Government and our R100 delivery partner, Openreach, following on from the 19 August announcement that coverage through the R100 North contract has been extended. This plan will see Openreach align the delivery of the R100 contracts alongside the commercial work that they carry out on a day-to-day basis. This does mean that some properties will receive access earlier than planned, while some properties will receive access later than planned. The £16 million referenced in the Emergency Budget Review is still expected to be spent as part of the overall R100 contracts.

Our address checker at https://www.scotlandsuperfast.com remains the best way to track the most up-to-date connectivity status of individual properties, including the most recent plans and timescales for R100 contract build for eligible properties.

No request for financial assistance has been made to the Scottish Government. In the normal course of business, Scottish Enterprise has provided information about its services to both an interested party and the Administrators.

The £1.4 million Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund was developed acknowledging islands are uniquely exposed to the current cost crisis.

In line with due process, the joint Scottish Government/COSLA Settlement Distribution Group will make recommendations on the allocation mechanism for the funding at their next meeting on 15 November. COSLA Leaders will be asked to give their final sign-off on 25 November.

As soon as possible after that date we will be in a position to share further information about allocation of the Fund. However, we can share that we will allow as much flexibility to Local Authorities as possible and support them to complement existing or new measures where appropriate. Any criteria and reporting processes required will be very light touch to minimise the impact on the workloads of Local Authorities colleagues.

As the member knows, in accordance with the requirements of UK Railway legislation – namely, the Railways Act 1993, and the Scottish Ministers’ Franchising Policy Statement, consideration is being given to the successor arrangement for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper services. It is our firm intention, should it be required, that all current jobs and post holders will transfer, should they wish to.

The number of C-peptide tests taken by people with type 1 diabetes since 1 November 2021 can be found in the following table. The information on the number of c-peptide tests being offered to those with type 1 diabetes is not held centrally.

Delivery of the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy 2021-2026 is undertaken by a number of organisations who make up the Save a Life for Scotland Partners.

Recent updates include:

• The launch of the Play your Part campaign by Save a Life for Scotland which seeks to make CPR training inclusive for individuals living with a disability: More information can be found here Accessible CPR Resources - Save a Life for Scotland .
• The launch of GoodSAM, an app that allows the Scottish Ambulance Service to notify volunteers to attend and provide CPR at a cardiac arrest before the ambulance arrives. More information and sign up details can be found here: GoodSam - Save a Life for Scotland .
• Scottish Government provision of funding for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and the Research Resuscitation Group (Edinburgh University) to deliver a pilot project of aftercare support for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest bystanders.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and I meet regularly with Creative Scotland to discuss our shared priorities, including funding for cultural organisations during the cost of living crisis which was discussed at the most recent meetings in June and October.

The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with the sector, and will continue to work with it to identify barriers to immediate and long-term recovery, and to do everything within our powers and resources to help those most affected by current economic challenges.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture and I hosted a virtual roundtable with public bodies and representative groups on 10 November. The Scottish Government will be hosting further roundtable discussions with the sector this winter.