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The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen. Design work is well underway on the dualling programme, including the East of Huntly to Aberdeen stretch of the route. Delivery of the schemes that make up the dualling programme can only commence if they are approved under the relevant statutory process and thereafter a timetable for their progress can be set in line with available budgets.

Improvements to the existing A96 dual carriageway and its junctions between the AWPR and Inverurie, will be considered as part of the ongoing development and assessment of the East of Huntly to Aberdeen stretch of the route and will be subject to further public engagement as part of this process. The development and assessment of any improvements to the existing dual carriageway between Kintore and Aberdeen will follow the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 2 options assessment process.

The design and assessment work for the East of Huntly to Aberdeen section of the route is taking into account the considerable feedback received. Following extensive engagement with local communities, road users and other stakeholders, a number of changes have recently been made to junctions on the options under consideration and a new junction has been proposed at Pitscurry. These changes have been informed by that vital feedback along with design and assessment work.

People who took part in previous consultations on the scheme have been sent details of these changes. In addition, anyone can view the proposed changes online on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a96-dualling-
inverness-to-aberdeen/a96-east-of-huntly-to-aberdeen/project-details/#56809 .

The design and assessment work is continuing in order to identify a preferred option which is currently expected to be announced in the coming months.

Our key priority during this time is to protect the lives of everyone in Scotland as we continue to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. However, where it is possible to do so, our consultants continue to advance design work on all our major road projects across the country, including the A96 Dualling programme, whilst complying with the Government’s physical distancing guidance.

It is still not possible to hold public exhibitions in venues at this time so we require to look at other ways to engage with the public so we can continue to take forward our infrastructure projects across the country. Transport Scotland recently sought views on a range of methods for safe and meaningful engagement with locals and road users, with attention being given to ensuring accessibility for all. Consideration to the feedback received will be taken into account as Transport Scotland takes forward the design and assessment of projects, including the A96 Dualling.

In line with the Scottish Government’s construction sector guidance ground investigation site work has resumed on the A96 Dualling Programme.

Site work on the Preliminary Ground Investigation contracts for the preferred option on A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme commenced on 27 January 2020 and were substantially complete when work was suspended on 23 March 2020 following COVID-19 guidance. Borehole monitoring has recommenced and is expected to continue for a period of 12 months. Outstanding site work on the scheme is currently being re-mobilised for completion in the coming months.

The published Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels guidance indicates that for level 3, visitor attractions, such as museums and galleries, can remain open with protective measures. This is the same status as that for public buildings for level 3.

The protective measures include ensuring physical distancing and hygiene measures are in place. Face coverings indoors are compulsory for all visitors and staff. All museums and galleries should follow the measures set out in the museums, galleries and heritage attractions guidance to ensure the safety of staff and the visiting public.

There are no current plans to review the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a standards organisation which, through the participation of over 200 independent industry and consumer protection experts, creates and maintains standards underpinning the certification of products, installers and their installations. The certification scheme is run on behalf of MCS by Certification Bodies who hold UKAS accreditation to ISO 17065, the international standard governing the operation and impartiality of accredited Certification Bodies.

Scottish Ministers recognise the crucial role that oil and gas workers, as key workers, are continuing to play in not only maintaining a secure supply of energy to consumers at this time, but sustaining critical national infrastructure throughout this pandemic.

We have already committed £100 million in 2020-21 to support those looking for work or at risk of redundancy to retrain and get back into work. This includes a £60 million fund to provide a job guarantee for young people, a new £25 million National Transition Training Fund and more funding to provide immediate assistance and advice if people are made redundant . with Skills Development Scotland continuing to offer PACE support services to all employees facing redundancy.

We have also launched a £62 million Energy Transition Fund which will support businesses in the oil, gas and energy sectors to grow and diversify and will help to attract private sector investment, with key projects located within the North East of Scotland, including support for the Energy Transition Zone proposed for Aberdeen South Harbour.

This investment in the Energy Transition Fund is a direct response to requests from industry stakeholders and members of the Oil and Gas and Energy Transition Strategic Leadership Group for support. The £62 million in investment will help unlock an overall private and public sector investment package in excess of £900 million and, in doing so, it will protect existing jobs and create new jobs in the energy sector, and help us make significant progress on energy transition as we move toward a net zero society by 2045.

The Scottish Government will also continue to work closely with the UK Government, which retains many of the key powers and levers needed to support the sector, including on the delivery of a transformational North Sea Transition Deal to complement the funding committed by Scottish Ministers through the Energy Transition Fund.

Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) have the potential to provide vital information in how we configure our services. A range of very effective digital solutions are already in place to support these. Our Cancer Recovery Plan will set out the national support we will provide to assessing the potential and value of these, linking with other digital strategies, and guiding pan-Scotland approaches to adoption.

Alongside this, we are considering innovative ways to safely carry on remote monitoring in a COVID-19 context.

While improving fire safety remains a key priority, the Scottish Government recognises the challenges, due to COVID-19, that affect all home owners, including those who are shielding, and which will impact on the work needed to meet the new safety standards for fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

In light of these challenges, I intend to bring forward regulations shortly which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will amend the commencement date for new minimum standards to 1 February 2022, allowing more time for the work required to meet the standards.