Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00157 on 1 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to support the food and drink industry, which has achieved great success in recent years. We will engage with key stakeholders, including businesses and organisations on how the £5 million investment fund can promote island, rural and regional food and drink produce, and support rural communities and the reputation and growth of the Scottish food and drink sector.

The Scottish Government has already committed £1.6 million to support local food and drink until June 2018 and £700,000 to support the seafood sector until March 2017. We also contribute to the £1 million per year core costs of the industry leadership body, Scotland Food and Drink, and are a contributor to the Scotland Food and Drink export plan.

There is a further £70 million of Scottish Government and EU support available over the period of 2014 to 2020 to support projects approved under the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation Grants Scheme and up to 107 million euros under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to deliver on sustainable economic growth in the sea fisheries and aquaculture sectors (including data collection and compliance), and assist communities to deliver economic benefits during the transition phase of the common fisheries policy reform programme.

<>I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00157 on 1 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00157 on 1 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

In March 2015, the UK Government confirmed that the full costs of the cross-subsidy for Shetland would be spread over Great Britain from the date at which the new energy solution for Shetland is implemented. This change will have the effect of reducing costs for all consumers in the North of Scotland and that is welcomed by Scottish Ministers. Further, in December 2015, the UK Government set out its intention to retain both the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme and the Common Tariff Obligation in their current form.

However, energy consumers in the North of Scotland will continue face some of the highest energy bills in Britain, with severe fuel poverty currently affecting many households in the Highlands and Islands. Regional differences in network charges are only one part of a range of complex issues underlying fuel poverty and we have commissioned the Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force to examine the issues around fuel poverty in rural areas and make recommendations. We look forward to a report of their findings and proposals later in 2016.

The independent analysis of responses received to the consultation on provisions for a Future Islands Bill was published on the Scottish Government's website on 14 March 2016: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2016/03/4180.

The Scottish Government is committed to bringing forward an Islands Bill and will set out plans for this in due course.

In December 2015, Transport Scotland commissioned consultants to conduct a comprehensive study to inform the specification of the next Northern Isles ferry service contract, commencing in April 2018.

The study is being overseen by a working group of key stakeholders, including Orkney and Shetland Islands Councils, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANS and ZetTrans, and will report in late Summer 2016.

A wider consultation exercise with the public and other key stakeholders, including Serco Northlink, was conducted earlier this year, with a further round of consultation due in the coming months.

Fare levels are being considered as part of this study and decisions on future fare levels will be made in due course.

I have arranged to meet with the member to discuss this further.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00108 on 25 May 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

To date, £150,000 has been allocated to Phase 1 of the Small Business Research Initiative competition which will see competitors develop a feasibility study for their proposed ideas. This funding will be distributed to organisations incrementally over the next six months pending the achievement of key milestones. Winners from Phase 1 can enter Phase 2 of the competition where contracts will be up to £150,000 each.

This information was published on 9 December 2015 in Table 2.1 of the Summary statistics for schools in Scotland, No.6: 2015 Edition’ (http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/12/7925).

The pupil teacher ratio (PTR) in primary schools has increased from 16.1 in 2011 to 16.7 in 2015. The PTR in secondary schools has decreased from 12.3 in 2011 to 12.2 in 2015. See the following table for figures for interim years.

PTR	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Primary	16.1	16.3	16.5	16.8	16.7
Secondary	12.3	12.2	12.2	12.2	12.2