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Scottish Ministers through successful use of the Access for All fund have invested over £67 million across the Scottish network improving the accessibility to 25 stations by 2019.

This dedicated programme is complemented by wider Scottish government investment to modernise stations on the network, such as the £25m invested to transform Haymarket. All new stations, such as those on the Borders Railway or the recently opened Edinburgh Gateway are fully accessible for disabled and other passengers.

Scottish Ministers also secured over £3 million of investment to be made by Abellio ScotRail specifically to improve access to rail services for passengers. This is in addition to the £475m being used to introduce new, fully compliant accessible rolling stock as well as supporting an extensive refurbishment of trains to ensure the ScotRail fleet is fully modernised and up to the accessibility standards required.

These are all tangible improvements that make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Scottish Government's first Accessible Travel Framework which I launched last year.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) a public body are established by the Scottish Ministers to provide safe, reliable, efficient and cost effective vessels for operators, communities and users in and around Scotland. CMAL employ qualified technical staff and it is therefore appropriate for them to undertake assessments and ascertain the condition of the fleet of vessels.

In terms of fleet renewal, the Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan (VR&DP) – Annual Report 2015, published in December 2016, summarises the outputs of work by Transport Scotland, CMAL and CalMac Ferries Ltd to develop a programme of vessel retentions, cascades, acquisitions and disposals in order to deliver the Ministerial commitments set out in the Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022).

The VR&DP is available on the Transport Scotland website.

The output of the first VR&DP annual report (2014) resulted in the procurement of two new major vessels by CMAL which are currently under construction by Clyde shipbuilder Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd. It also modelled an indicative program for a further 4 new major vessels to replace vessels approaching the end of their working life. Since 2011, 5 new vessels have been introduced to the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service network.

The comments I made in response to S5T-00336 are consistent with the draft budget.

Following negotiations with the bus industry, we have reached an agreement on reimbursement terms for 2017-18 which is underpinned by the economic model agreed with the industry in 2013. The Statutory Instrument implementing those terms constrains the total cost through a budgetary cap, based on the value of expected claims.

We also need to ensure that the Concessionary Travel Scheme remains sustainable in the longer term, which is why we will be engaging with stakeholders to identify options and undertaking a public consultation later in the year. In doing so, we will be mindful of the need to safeguard the position of existing card holders, ensuring that any changes will not affect those already in possession of bus passes and that we protect those with disabilities.

The guidance issued in the CMO letter 2009/03 to all Health boards on 25 March 2009 remains extant. All guidance remains under general review to ensure it remains applicable.

Published guidance is contained within CMO letter 2009/03. The key purpose of the guidance is to provide a framework to support local decisions concerning the possible combination of elements of NHS and private care for individual patients. Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services remain matters for NHS boards; and clinicians remain responsible for clinical decisions regarding the care of individual patients.

NHS boards are expected to have a clear policy in place to deal with situations which may result in a patient requesting combined NHS and private healthcare including a medicine which is not available in the NHS as set out in the guidance published in CMO letter 2009/03.

Over £475 million is being invested over the next few years in ScotRail's rolling stock which will lower the average age of the fleet. This funding, provided through the ScotRail franchise budget, will deliver 234 new carriages when the Hitachi electric class 385 fleet will be gradually introduced over the next 24 months.

It is always important to note that the quality of the train fleet is important, not its age. Good, high quality refurbishment can deliver a passenger experience comparable with new rolling stock.

The Scottish Government is very disappointed by Flybe’s decision to withdraw the Dundee-Amsterdam air service. Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd has worked closely with Flybe to seek to resolve the Airline’s operational issues and will continue to work with Flybe and other interested parties in the interests of returning this successful service to Dundee. The Scottish Government was made aware of Flybe’s intention to withdraw the service on 22 December 2016.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-05287 on 16 December 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

As part of its work on railway improvements between Aberdeen and the Central Belt, which represents the additional £200 million investment, announced alongside the Aberdeen City Region Deal; Transport Scotland is exploring potential options for the double tracking of Usan Junction and South Esk viaduct at Montrose as well as exploring other options between Aberdeen and Dundee.