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The following table sets out the total number of premises currently contracted to receive connections through the R100 North contract by 2028, the number of premises connected as of 13 January 2025 and the number of premises yet to be connected as of the same date.

Openreach are also delivering a number of additional connections to premises that were not in the contracts, but have been connected as a result of nearby R100 contract build. This is known as overspill. The number of such connections delivered are also provided in the following table.

It should also be noted that our demand-led R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) remains available for those not expected to benefit from superfast broadband through R100 contract or commercial build plans.

The latest data, as provided on our address checker at www.scotlandsuperfast.com, shows that a total of 7,924 connections are expected to be delivered through the R100 North contract in 2025. This information is broken down by Local Authority in the following table.

Please note that these figures are subject to change, as connection plans can change, based on a number of factors such as adverse weather or issues with securing access to land or property, etc.

The Scottish Government has provided £8.25m to Seafood Scotland since 2021 in their role as Scotland’s national trade and marketing organisation for the seafood industry. This includes funding to help Seafood Scotland facilitate projects which support export market development. We are also providing £672k in 2024-25 towards the Scotland Food & Drink Export Plan, which is helping the food and drink industry exploit the most significant opportunities for Scotland with a team of Scottish Development International (SDI) food and drink in-market specialists situated in key countries around the globe.

SDI has a dedicated food and drink specialist based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who works to promote and support Scottish food and drink companies, including the seafood sector, to unlock new opportunities and increase their exports to the UAE and the wider Middle East. Seafood Scotland, alongside SDI’s in-market specialist, has also worked with Scottish seafood companies to expand opportunities in the UAE. Examples of upcoming activity include:

• SDI hosting a pavilion at the Gulfood Trade show from 17-21 February 2025, collaborating with Seafood Scotland to showcase and promote Scottish seafood to international delegates.
• SDI hosting a showcasing & tasting networking event at Gulfood for international buyers which will include Scottish seafood, shellfish & salmon.
• Coordination of a learning journey experience to look at specific opportunities for Scottish seafood sales within a group of high end UAE based restaurants.

The SDI in-market specialist is also working with Emirates’ catering and in-flight shopping experience buying teams to promote Scottish products, influence and educate them on the breadth and quality of Scotland’s food and drink offering. Activity is underway to ensure that Scottish suppliers are fully aware of any relevant tenders and opportunities with the airline.

The Visitor Levy is a discretionary power for local authorities to use. In doing so, a local authority will have to comply with its duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. Additionally, Local authorities have the power to charge different rates and exemptions for different geographical areas .Each local authority has a responsibility to publish assessment of the impacts of introducing a Visitor Levy, and they have a statutory requirement to consult with local communities, businesses, and the public, prior to the introduction of a Visitor Levy.

Scottish Enterprise confirmed there are 60 GlobalScots located in the UAE.

There are currently 4 events coming up within the year with one specific to GlobalScots. The 4 events that are planned for this year within UAE are:

• Gulfood - the world's largest annual food and hospitality show (17-21 February 2025);
• GlobalScot Middle East AGM (end of March 2025);
• Scotland Week, which will include an Energy Trade Mission, Scottish Food and Drink showcase and some Capital Investment and Science & Tech related activity (planned for April 2025);
• ADIPEC - Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (3-6 November 2025; focus on energy transition).

Through the work of the Scottish Government funded Scotland Food & Drink Export plan, Scottish Development International (SDI) will be organising a learning journey to Saudi Arabia & Qatar for Scottish food & drink companies later in 2025, including those in the seafood sector, who are looking to enter or grow their business in the Middle East region.

The purpose of the mission will be to raise the ambition of the companies and their awareness of the opportunities in these emerging markets, as well as help them to identify routes to market. SDI will be arranging a programme of activity that will include attending in-market events, stakeholder/meet-the-buyer meetings and receptions that will allow companies to showcase their products.

More generally, SDI and Seafood Scotland will continue to work with key partners to monitor any potential emerging opportunities for Scottish Seafood companies in the Middle East.

Scottish Enterprise have confirmed there are 8 Scottish Development International (SDI) staff based in the UAE, that operate out of FCDO offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Membership of the Strategic Wildlife and Species Land Managers Forum (SWSLM Forum) is made up of representatives from the main public and private organisations that have a role in managing wildlife. However the constitution of the group may change on a meeting-by-meeting basis to reflect the subjects on the agenda. The initial membership of the SWSLM Forum consists of the following organisations:

• Scottish Government
• British Association for Shooting and Conservation
• National Farmers Union Scotland
• National Trust for Scotland
• NatureScot
• Royal Society for the Protection for Birds
• Scottish Gamekeepers Association
• Scottish Land and Estates
• Scottish Countryside Alliance
• Scottish Wildlife Trust
• Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

The next meeting of the SWSLM Forum is scheduled to take place on Thursday 3 April 2025. The intention is that the Forum will then meet every three months.

We welcome the publication of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report, which is advisory in nature. Transport Scotland officials are considering the report in detail and will then take forward the recommendations where required. Scottish Minsters have been clear on the operational, resilience, value for money and efficiency benefits of operating the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service (CHFS) network as a whole, and this remains the intent.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33834 on 13 February 2025. 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