Seòmar agus comataidhean

I fully appreciate the need to get bookings released in good time so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead. The Northern Isles Ferry Services contract stipulates that the May CPI rate, which is normally published in June, is used as the basis for the following year’s fares increase together with any other cost pressures such as energy and staff wage increase. We will aim to confirm fares as soon as possible thereafter to allow bookings to be opened as early as possible.

The Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) Strategic Approach and Vessels and Ports Plan were published for public consultation and community engagement last year, with the consultation report and Transport Scotland’s Initial Responses published in September 2024. Following the recent completion of the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment, it is anticipated that the final versions of these two documents will be published shortly.

Work on the ICP will continue through refreshed needs assessments for island and peninsula communities served by the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles ferries. The first of these, for Cowal and Rosneath, was published last September. We intend to commission the remaining assessments in the coming year.

Other ICP workstreams, including those on fares, integration and low carbon are ongoing.

Preparatory work is now underway for the NIFS4 contract but this remains at an early stage. No decision on the detailed requirements of the contract has been taken but the views of stakeholders and operational feasibility will inform the approach taken. This will include considering how the booking system can be operated to maximise flexibility for customers.

Most work on the Islands Connectivity Plan is being done by Transport Scotland’s Ferries Strategy Team, with support from other teams, stakeholders and, when necessary, commissioned externally.

As of 28 March 2025 there are 6 people working in the team.

The current NIFS contract is due to expire on 30 June 2028. Preparatory work to deliver the next generation of these services remains at an early stage. The detailed service requirements will be informed by a combination of stakeholder views alongside consideration of operational feasibility. There are no current plans to introduce shared cabins as part of the NIFS services.

A start date for the review is not confirmed at this time – it is important that the scope and timing of the review is considered within the context of wider reform on access to health care, which is already underway.

It is recognised that transport to health is a key enabler to ensure equitable access to healthcare, and work to bring travel/transport and health planning closer together is in progress. This work will include bringing local bodies together at a regional level to consider the options for transport to health.

While the Scottish Government provides the overarching guidance for patient travel expenses reimbursement, NHS Boards are responsible for developing local policy to best meet the needs to their populations, and for assessing eligibly for financial support and level of that support. This includes setting and reviewing reimbursement rates.

Boards are expected to consider local and individual circumstances, ensuring patient care is at the centre of all decisions made.

I visited Salmar Aker Ocean’s Ocean Farm One, the world’s first offshore salmon farm, in Norway in August 2023, where I learned about high farmed fish survival rates, alongside reduced environmental impacts, made possible through farming in higher energy locations.

SalMar Ocean (previously Salmar Aker Ocean) has since met with the Scottish Government to discuss the consenting process for developing a salmon farm between 3 – 12 nautical miles.

Alongside work which builds on the fish farm consenting pilots aimed at delivering improvements to our consenting system, we have also been working to address regulatory gaps and to consider the long-term policy and regulatory framework required to support ‘offshore’ salmon farming in Scotland, as committed to in our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture.

This includes our recent consultation on proposals to extend marine planning zones, to allow developers to submit planning applications for aquaculture developments out to 12 nautical miles to the relevant local planning authority. Results of the consultation are currently being analysed and will be published in due course.

Due to the innovative nature of the proposed development, Scottish Government officials and aquaculture regulators have met with the business to advise on consenting processes.

I discussed the subject of the HSE improvement notice at a meeting with the SFRS Chair and Chief Officer on 6 March. I received and welcome the reassurances provided that SFRS is committed to addressing the concerns raised through the formation of a working group to ensure robust management of actions planned to meet the requirements of the improvement notice. SFRS is engaging with HSE, local councillors, staff and unions on this subject.

The recently passed Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes £412.2 million for SFRS, £47m of which is capital funding. In terms of capital funding this is a £4 million increase over 2025-26 which will allow SFRS to continue to invest in better facilities, property, fleet and equipment. Operational decisions on the allocation of resources are a matter for the SFRS board and Chief Officer.

The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate routinely inspect Scottish and non-Scottish vessels based on risk. Under remote electronic monitoring for pelagic vessels, this will include analysis of catch data compared with vessel capacity. Additionally, targeted analysis will be undertaken where there is relevant intelligence. Standard enforcement procedures will be invoked where offences are detected. This may include requiring pelagic vessels to facilitate an inspection at sea or in port. On occasions, it might be a requirement to detain a pelagic vessel in port, especially when the master is non-domiciled to the UK.