Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you.

We have touched on inflationary costs and their impact on some projects. In general terms, fishing, farming and food-processing businesses in rural and island areas face significant cost increases. How will the Scottish Government’s budget support such businesses as they try to weather those increases?

I have a brief question. On examples of transformational infrastructure, I was struck by Diarmaid Lawlor’s comment about basics done well. How do you ensure that that happens?

My understanding is that no one on the investment panel lives on an island. Can you confirm whether that is correct?

Thank you for clarifying that.

Thanks, convener, and good morning to the panel. I hear what Gareth Waterson is saying and I can identify with some of the issues from a Shetland perspective. Pippa Milne and Russell McCutcheon, what are your views on the effect of the cost of living and price increases on the capital projects that you have identified? Russell, you alluded to weather and seasonal challenges in relation to the labour market and getting supplies in; will you expand on that?

I am interested in the panel’s views on the carbon neutral islands project and in what role local authorities have in delivery. The island of Yell, in my constituency, has been selected as a carbon neutral island, so I would be interested in hearing your views on that. Who wants to start?

Will you reflect on how the competitive bidding process worked this year and on how it compares with last year’s allocation process? Should future rounds be done in a similar competitive way?

The fishing industry, particularly the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, has raised concerns about spatial squeeze. The phrase does not get across the gravity and seriousness of what it means to our fishing industry, which fears being pushed out of traditional fishing grounds and spawning grounds as the Government prioritises marine renewables over catchers and producers of high-quality, healthy and sustainable food. Renewables and energy security are important but so, too, is food security. Managing competing demands on marine space relies on the national marine plan, so will you give an update on when the Government will announce what plans there are to amend or replace the current plan?

I have a question about the renewal of marine licences with regard to salmon farms. I have heard concerns that there are delays in the renewal process. Could the cabinet secretary comment on that? That leads on to issues that I have raised before about Marine Scotland perhaps not being sufficiently resourced to cope with the demands that it faces.