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The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our digital strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress made by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, enterprise agencies and other stakeholders. Local broadband plans will outline how and when next generation broadband will be rolled-out to the areas within each region. Key to the success of these local broadband plans will be securing the best possible share from the £530 million allocated at UK level for broadband delivery.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney. Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of its local broadband plan, including local authorities, the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, industry, local businesses, communities and individuals, MSPs and the UK Government.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently finalising its local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region.

Additionally, the South of Scotland Alliance, whose area covers the geographic boundaries of Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, expects to have a comprehensive plan completed by September 2011.

The Scottish Government is currently working with local authorities, Scottish Enterprise and other stakeholders to help them develop local broadband plans for the remaining regions of Scotland this year.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our Digital Strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, our Enterprise Agencies and other stakeholders. It is the responsibility of these bodies to set the criteria for the prioritisation of the rollout of next generation broadband in each region and local area within each region.

The Scottish Government has not conducted, and has no plans to conduct, an investigation of the impact on voluntary organisations and businesses of the exclusion of business-related claims from the Air Discount Scheme (ADS).

We have not received representations from any voluntary organisations on the impact of the exclusion of business-related claims, although we have received a very small number of direct representations from businesses.

The ADS is designed to facilitate social support for individual scheme members. Although the scheme does not extend to providing voluntary organisations with help in participating in national events on the Scottish mainland, it is available to support individual members attending social type events on the mainland.

We consulted with a range of representative bodies on the detail of the 2011-12 Innovation and Investment Fund and received comments from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum before finalising guidance on the benchmarks.