Chamber and committees

The grant subsidy paid to the operator is paid by contract years (July till the following June) and represents the difference between the costs of operating the service and the income generated.

This information is collated and published each year on the Transport Scotland website but in contract year form from 2011.

The annual subsidy figures published to date covering the periods in question can be found in the latest published report at Scottish Transport Statistics 2022 | Transport Scotland under chapter 9 table 9.14a , referencing the notes as advised.

This information is published in March of the following year to the report in question.

The annual subsidy for 2020-2021 was £34,174k. The total revenue for contract year 2020-2021 was £29,128k. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

The annual subsidy for 2021-2022 was £38,851k. The total revenue for contract year 2021-2022 was £39,328k. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

The annual subsidy for 2022-2023 was £47,109k. The total revenue for contract year 2022-2023 was £43,625k these will be the figures used in the Scottish Transport Statistics 2023 report when published this year. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the financial components of the contract revenue as this information is commercially confidential.

I have greatly valued discussions with the OECD to date and my next meeting with the OECD is scheduled for Wednesday 21 February.

The Scottish Government holds regular discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited on the charter and potential purchase of available and suitable vessels to support and improve services on Scotland’s ferry networks. Discussions also take place with CalMac where appropriate.

The Member may wish to note that the reason for the low temperatures on the early services in the West Highland line is not a faulty heating system, but the time it takes for the train diesel engines to heat up. It would not be appropriate to replace the heating system which is not faulty.

In the longer term, ScotRail’s diesel rolling stock will be replaced by the greener trains as set out in the Scottish Government’s Decarbonisation Action Plan.

The Scottish Government has not conducted any region specific analysis, however we do not expect a significant increase in traffic numbers in any area.

I meet with a representative of ALACHO on a quarterly basis at Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group (HPSG) and at Housing to 2040 Strategic Board meetings. The dates of these meetings can be found here: Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and Housing to 2040: Strategic Board - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . I also met with an ALACHO representative on 20 December to discuss the draft Scottish Budget 2024-25 and with representatives of ALACHO and the Chartered Institute for Housing on 14 December to discuss their letter to me on pressures on the housing and homelessness system.

Following the deep dives agreed by HPSG, four task and finish groups were established from June 2022 onwards, which met regularly (between every four to eight weeks). Scottish Government officials were represented on these groups, one of which (the Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group) was co-chaired by a representative of ALACHO.

A representative of ALACHO chairs the rapid rehousing transition plan (RRTP) sub-group, attended by Scottish Government officials and, since 2021, has met with the Scottish Government on other strategic homelessness related issues, such as the Domestic Abuse Implementation and Monitoring Group, the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone Group and the Short Term Housing Supply Group. Finally, Scottish Government officials have met with ALACHO regularly in 2023 (every two to three months) to hold discussions on topics including local connection, RRTP funding, the proposed new homelessness prevention duties and the homelessness statistical data review.

There is no single point of contact in the Scottish Government for the National Acquisition Programme. The programme is part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and managed at a local level by More Homes Division Area Teams who work with local authorities and Registered Social Landlords to plan and progress acquisitions through the programme. The More Homes central Programme Management Team monitors and reports on the progress of the programme. There is no single point of contact in local government for the national acquisition programme. It is for local authorities to agree their policy position and approach to acquisitions as outlined in our published National Acquisition Programme information .

Statistics on the number of arrests for offences under the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 would be kept by the Police Service of Scotland and are not available to COPFS.

Since the act came into force on 24 August 2021, there have been a total of 3,607 charges reported to COPFS for offences under that act.

Of those charges, 2,976 were marked for court proceedings and 1,199 resulted in convictions. Accordingly, 323 of those charges resulted in acquittals, while 141 were marked for ‘no further action’. A case may be marked for no further action where it is no longer in the public interest to prosecute or where it is no longer considered that there is sufficient evidence. The remaining 1,313 of the charges marked for court proceedings are still ongoing as of 31 January 2024.

Of the 631 charges which were reported to COPFS but not marked for court proceedings:-

320 were marked for a direct measure, 83 marked for no action, 74 are still awaiting a marking decision. Of the 320 marked for a direct measure, 19 were marked for a combined fiscal fine and requirement to pay compensation. A further 19 were marked for compensation alone. 61 were marked for a fiscal fine alone. 66 were marked for diversion. 6 were marked for an unpaid work offer. 122 were referred to the Scottish Childrens Reporter and 27 were issued with a warning.

A total of 154 charges were not separately actioned. This is where no action was taken against that particular charge but action (prosecution in court or direct measure) was taken against the accused in relation to other charges emanating from the same case.

The Scottish Government met with Police Scotland this month, with further engagement planned to discuss any issues, concerns or barriers from a policing perspective in relation to implementation and enforcement of the new safeguards in relation to XL Bully dogs.

In addition the Scottish Government has also written to Councillor Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, to provide information on the Scottish Government’s policy approach and to offer to meet to discuss any local authority issues, concerns or barriers from a local authority perspective on the implementation of the new safeguards.

My officials have also set up an implementation forum to bring together the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, local authorities and COSLA to collectively consider any operational / enforcement issues that arise, and to help inform any consideration of requests for additional funding.

Harbour dues are charged to CalMac by the Ardrossan Harbour Company Ltd as per the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract and the existing and ongoing cost of harbour dues will be factored into the business case. Neither CalMac or Transport Scotland are party to the financial arrangements between Ardrossan Harbour Company Ltd and their owner Peel Ports Group.