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The Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (CoP15) will take place in Beijing, China in October 2020 to finalise the next set of international biodiversity targets. Scotland is working with other UK administrations to contribute to the development of these targets.

In due course, it is intended to prepare a refreshed biodiversity strategy for Scotland to take account of the new international targets.

This is an operational matter for Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management)(CES(IM)), I have written to Simon Hodge, Chief Executive of CES(IM). His response is as follows:

Our Biodiversity Statement was published in February 2018 http://www.crownestatescotland.com/maps-and-publications/download/146 and we will provide a publicly available report on actions taken to meet our biodiversity duty in 2021.

Biodiversity and broader environmental sustainability of Scottish Crown Estate assets is key to our business. We work with the Scottish Government, business partners and communities to encourage sustainable practices, and continue to invest in public access and education facilities to enhance the public use and understanding of the natural environment.

The Scottish Government has asked Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to undertake an analysis of further actions that may be required, in addition to work which SNH is coordinating under the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity and the associated Route Map, to help Scotland progress the Aichi targets. This analysis will include discussion with partners in the public, private and third sectors who are contributing to delivering Scotland’s biodiversity strategy.

In the recently published Programme for Government, the Scottish Government announced a Biodiversity Challenge Fund of up to £2 million which will contribute to the progress of the Aichi targets in Scotland. Details of the Challenge Fund will be announced in due course.

The Scottish Government does not have powers in relation to regulation of telecommunications markets, as this remains reserved to the UK Ministers. However, our understanding is that the vast majority of broadband or phone line installations involve some form of connection charge. The Scottish Government's Reaching 100% (R100) programme – in seeking to address the poor coverage in rural areas resulting from a market-driven UK model – will benchmark these at a wholesale level. It will then be a decision for individual Internet Service Providers (ISPs) whether they pass any such charges onto the consumer.

An aligned intervention scheme is being developed in parallel with the ongoing initial procurement exercise for the Scottish Government’s
‎ £600 million Reaching 100% (R100) programme. However, the need for – and scale of – such a scheme will only be determined by the outcome of this initial procurement which will identify gaps in coverage that will remain. Further plans for any aligned interventions will be announced in 2019, following the award of the R100 contracts.

Any premises unable to access superfast broadband speeds of 30Mbps and above, with no known commercial plans, are eligible for investment through the Scottish Governments £600 million Reaching 100 percent or R100 programme.

Under the Scotland Act 1998, the legal and regulatory responsibility for telecoms in the UK rests solely with the UK Parliament and UK Ministers. On that basis, the Scottish Government has no powers to obligate Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide services to premises in Scotland.

We are using our economic development powers to subsidise a supplier (or suppliers), through the Scottish Governments £600 million Reaching 100 Percent or R100 programme, to deliver a wholesale broadband network capable of delivering speeds in excess of 30Mbps in areas that would not otherwise be served by a commercial service and, in this way we are addressing and helping to overcome market failure. The chosen supplier(s) will be obligated to have an anchor service provider in place and to encourage a wide range of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to use the network.

Premises will be considered ‘capable’ of accessing superfast broadband when the owners or occupiers of those premises can order a service capable of delivering download speeds of 30Mbps and above.

The vast majority of broadband or phone line installations involve some form of connection charge. The Scottish Governments £600 milliom Reaching 100 percent or R100 programme will benchmark these at a wholesale level. It will then be a decision for individual Internet Service Providers (ISPs) whether they pass any such charges onto the consumer.

A meeting was held with residents of Crocketford and Springholm on 21 March 2017. Mr Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands attended the meeting alongside representatives from Transport Scotland and Police Scotland.

At this meeting the Crocketford residents requested that, along with additional speed reducing measures, a pedestrian crossing be provided. Transport Scotland subsequently commissioned Scotland TranServ (STS) to investigate if there was a demand for a crossing based on current assessment criteria. The investigation found that the most effective crossing facility for the A75 in Crocketford is an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing. Two uncontrolled crossings are programmed to be installed in Crocketford by the end of November 2018.