Seòmar agus comataidhean

I spoke to the Managing Director of Loganair on 5 July 2017 and the Chief Executive of Flybe on 9 August 2017. While I noted that Loganair and Flybe will be operating commercial services in competition with one another, I encouraged them to explore options for code share arrangements so that, at the very least, current onward connectivity levels from the Highlands and Islands are maintained to avoid the need for passengers travelling to destinations outwith Scotland to make two separate bookings.

Scotland's air is amongst the best in Europe, but hotspots of poor air quality remain. According to the UK Government's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP), poor air quality in Scotland reduces average life expectancy by 3-4 months (compared with 6-7 months in England and Wales). That is why improving air quality in Scotland, especially in urban hotspots, is a priority for the Scottish Government.

The Cleaner Air For Scotland Strategy (CAFS) is taking forward an ambitious programme of work to deliver improvements including through the introduction of Scotland's first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) by 2018.

The Scottish Government supports, and works closely with, the partner organisations who are helping to implement the Scottish Wildcat Action Plan. This is a five year project that aims to restore viable populations of wildcat north of the Highland fault line. So far, this work has focussed on six Priority Areas and has included intensive camera trapping surveys, a first season of ‘Trap Neuter Vaccinate Release’ (TNVR) of feral cats and hybrid cats, the ‘Supercat’ campaign to promote responsible cat-ownership, and engagement with land managers to improve land management practices in relation to wildcats. Some of the partners are also working on a captive conservation programme, using Scottish Wildcats from collections across Britain.

Analyses show that the main threat to wildcats is hybridisation from feral and domestic cats. Survey work undertaken by the University of Oxford and recent monitoring work under the Scottish Wildcat Action Plan has established that feral and domestic cat populations can be extensive across the wildcat range and within the Priority Areas. These results have been confirmed by initial genetic analyses by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland,.

The Scottish Government Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats recommends that all cat owners should consider neutering and microchipping (involving registration) their pets as the best way of being reunited with them should they be separated. We do not currently consider these actions should be compulsory for cats.

The Scottish Government has not carried out analysis on the impact of these in managing the population of domestic cats.

Orkney and Shetland are part of the Scottish Government’s commitment that all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram can be made using a single type of smart ticket or payment.

Orkney and Shetland will be part of the national e-Purse to be implemented during 2018. Oyster, it should be noted, is also an e-Purse.

Transport Scotland has regular dialogue with key stakeholders via the Smart Ticketing Operators Steering group, and more focussed working groups on, for example, the implementation of the National ePurse. In addition all of Scotland's ferry operators were invited to a smart ticketing meeting held on 26 May 2017.

Transport Scotland continues to work with Scottish transport operators and other public bodies to deliver the Scottish Government’s vision that all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be made using one type of smart ticket or payment.

In the UK, outside of London, bus services are deregulated so government cannot simply instruct bus operators or indeed certain ferry operators to adopt or participate in smart ticketing. The Programme for Government lays out a commitment to work with stakeholders to develop legislative options for improving bus services and securing nationwide multi modal smart ticketing as part of our preparation for a Transport Bill within the current Parliament.

The most recent Working Group meeting, which includes local authorities, Regional Transport Partnerships, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and industry bodies, took place on 27 March 2017. At this meeting the Working Group identified some further analysis to be undertaken on the preferred option identified for setting freight fares. This has now been conducted and I have recently received advice from Transport Scotland officials, which I am currently considering.

Scottish Ministers & Transport Scotland have always been clear that there is no definitive commitment on timing. However we are working to conclude the review as soon as practicable and I aim to be in a position to provide details on the way forward by the end of this summer.

Minutes of all Working Group meetings are available on the Transport Scotland website.

The number of people under 18 sentenced to custody in each year since 2006-07 is presented in the following table. Individual people are counted more than once if they receive more than one custodial sentence within a year.

Source: Criminal Proceedings database.

Publication of the results of the pulse survey is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.