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Work on the review of the non-statutory Blue Badge Code of Practice has begun and is being taken forward by Transport Scotland officials working with relevant stakeholders, including MND Scotland with respect to testing new models for obtaining a Blue Badge for inclusion in the Code. We expect to publish a revised Code of Practice during the 2020-21 financial year.

The Scottish Government commissioned research into socio-economic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moor shooting estates in Scotland. The first phase of this work was completed by researchers at Scotland’s Rural College and the James Hutton Institute, and was published in March 2019. The review of evidence suggests that around 2,500 FTE jobs (both direct and indirect) were reliant on the grouse moor sector in 2009.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The Scottish Government commissioned research into socio-economic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moor shooting estates in Scotland. The first phase of this work was completed by researchers at Scotland’s Rural College and the James Hutton Institute, and was published in March 2019. This report showed that the grouse shooting industry accounts for around £23-£50 million Gross Value Added (GVA) per year.

Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) published “The Value of Shooting – The economic, environment and social contribution of shooting sports to the UK” in 2014. This report estimated that the shooting industry contributes approximately £200m to Scotland’s economy and provides the equivalent of 11,000 jobs.

As noted in my response to the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee’s report on the 2018 fire at the Glasgow School of Art, the Scottish Government is keen to ensure that we learn from the terrible events of last June and that we do what we can to help prevent similar events occurring in the future. However, we also believe that we should all await the outcome of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s investigations before we consider in detail what actions we might take to this end.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area, including ford river crossings, and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. It would therefore be a matter for the relevant local authority to undertake any necessary EIAs.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the strategic trunk road network including motorways. There are no ford river crossings on the trunk road network.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads, including ford river crossings, in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the strategic trunk road network including motorways. There are no ford river crossings on the trunk road network.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. This includes any ford river crossings on the local road network.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the strategic trunk road network including motorways.

In 2019-20 the Scottish Government is delivering a funding package of £11.2 billion for local authorities, a real terms increase of £310 million or 2.9 per cent for essential public services in Scotland.

It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area, including ford river crossings, and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. Access to properties would therefore be a matter for each local authority.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for the strategic trunk road network including motorways. There are no ford river crossings on the trunk road network.

It will be for individual local authorities to decide whether or not to apply a levy if they consider it appropriate for local circumstances.

The Scottish Government invested £100,000 to develop a campaign to promote tourism as a career of choice, to be launched in 2020, building on Skills Development Scotland's Tourism Skills Investment Plan, that aims to address existing and future skills challenges across the sector, particularly those arising due to EU exit. Our new Programme for Government also commits us to encouraging more fair work practices, including payment of the Real Living Wage, which will support the promotion of careers in the sector. We are also working on the Tourism Sector Deal proposals to support careers in the sector.