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The First Minister announced on 22 June that on 9 August, subject to confirmation nearer the time, all physical distancing requirements will be removed.

Ferry operators have been planning for the removal of physical distancing in order to increase passenger capacity wherever possible.

Any additional passenger capacity released will be made available on a first come, first served basis, as per the terms of the Clyde & Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry services contracts.

Ministers have tasked CalMac Ferries Ltd and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to seek out potential charter opportunities and the MV Arrow is one vessel that is being considered.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01146 on‎ 1 July 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers‎

To ensure that they remain necessary and proportionate to the health harms of Covid-19, a review was undertaken ahead of the publication of the Strategic Framework Update and the Physical Distancing Review on 22 June 2021 to consider whether an earlier re-opening of night clubs was feasible. It underlined that the risks of transmission associated with the re-opening of night clubs remained significant. These include poor ventilation, alcohol consumption and high noise levels. There is also the additional risk of close physical contact in nightclubs. These risks are considered to be higher than in other settings which is why this sector is under tighter restrictions than other settings such as bars. Importantly, nightclubs are generally frequented by younger demographics who will be amongst the last to be vaccinated.

However, the Scottish Government provided greater clarity on the timing and conditions under which a re-opening would be possible. The Strategic Framework Update advised that nightclubs would be able to reopen when Scotland moves beyond level 0, we hope to make that change on 9 August provided over 40s and adults at risk have protection from the virus through 2 doses of the vaccine and the virus is sufficiently under control.

The publication of the Strategic Framework Update and the review into Physical Distancing will hopefully have provided the events sector greater clarity, particularly on when limits will be removed and physical distancing will end. Live music events are allowed in levels 2 and below albeit subject to capacity limits. There is guidance in place which may allow events to go ahead above those limits subject to approval from the local authority when Scotland is in level 0. We hope that all limits on attending events can be removed on 9 August when the whole of Scotland is expected to move beyond Level 0 provided key conditions are met. Additionally, we are currently working with stakeholders to establish the right package of baseline protective measures which will be necessary at these events following Scotland’s move beyond Level 0.

The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining and improving the reliability of lifeline ferry services that play a key role in supporting the economic, social and cultural development of island and remote communities - including the Arran service.

We continue to invest in the reliability of vessels in Clyde and Hebrides network through the Resilience Fund which was established in 2008 to improve the future reliability and availability of vessels, including both vessels operating on the Ardrossan to Brodick route and for ensuring the resilience of the Lochranza service.

It is extremely disappointing that Pentland Ferries has taken a business decision not to make the MV Pentalina available for charter. However, the Scottish Government will continue to work with CalMac and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to actively explore opportunities for chartering alternative additional tonnage for the Clyde and Hebrides network.

On 22 June, the First Minister announced changes which will help benefit weddings. In particular, suppliers employed by the couple marrying or registering their civil partnership, such as a photographer, will no longer count towards the numerical caps. This change took effect from 25 June. As indicated by the First Minister, we anticipate that this change will now have a relatively minor impact on transmission.

A direct comparison of the costs of renting and buying is complicated because a range of factors need to be taken into account. For example, the capital element of a repayment mortgage creates an asset for the owner, which rent does not; conversely, renters will need to provide a smaller deposit than home owners. Other factors that should be included in a comparison are that, unlike a renter, an owner will be liable for costs such as buildings insurance, repairs and maintenance, and LBTT. It is unclear from the Hamptons Report whether any allowance has been made for these factors in their methodology.

In the year to end September 2020, the average 2-bedroom rent in Scotland was £689, [1] as compared with £793 in England. [2] In May 2021, private rental prices rose by an annual 1.3% in Scotland as compared with 1.1% in England. In April 2021, the average house price in Scotland was £160,632, up by an annual 6.3%, while the average house price in England was £268,321, up by annual 8.9%. [3]

We are committed to ensuring that everyone has a warm, comfortable and safe place to live, and to expanding our social and affordable housing stock. Housing to 2040 , Scotland’s vision for housing to 2040, includes a commitment to take action to ensure the housing market operates more fairly across Scotland, providing affordable housing options and choices in all communities.

For the social and private rented sector, we will publish a new draft Rented Sector Strategy, by the end of this year, which will be consulted upon in 2022. The Strategy will be informed by those most affected, that will seek to improve accessibility, affordability and standards across the whole rented sector.

These commitments, builds on the significant reforms already put in place through our 2016 Private Housing Tenancies Act, which provided private renters with a range of new rights and greater security, stability and predictability in their rents. We will also reform Rent Pressure Zones, so that this is a workable tool for local authorities to address high rents in localised areas.

[1] Scottish Government, Private sector rent statistics: 2010 - 2020

[2] ONS, Private rental market summary statistics in England: April 2020 to March 2021

[3] UK House Price Index

CalMac invests significantly in vessel maintenance. Each vessel is taken out of service annually to undergo an established programme of inspection and maintenance activities. This includes planned maintenance, preventative maintenance, repair and certification renewal to ensure the continued safety and reliability of the service.

The annual cost of maintenance and repairs by CalMac Ferries Limited on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services fleet since 2010 is detailed in the following table:

The figures are given as a fleet value rather than per vessel to retain commercial confidentiality of CalMac Ferries Limited.

This is a matter for local authorities. The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

In responding to the pandemic, The Scottish Government have been guided by the principles outlined in our Framework for Decision Making. Here we set out the direct and indirect harms of the pandemic, which we consider in our "four harms" approach: one of those being that protective measures have a damaging effect on our prosperity.

Decisions to allocate areas to Levels are finely balanced, taking into account a range of factors. These factors include the need to control the virus and minimise harms from Covid, in terms of morbidity and mortality, as well as the wider economic and social harms or the restrictions. In addition any decision has to ensure that restrictions are justified, necessary and proportionate, and in a way that ensures impacts on fundamental rights are understood and minimized.

The Scottish Government has engaged extensively with businesses and their representative organisations during the pandemic, and are in close and regular dialogue with business leaders on a range of priority issues. We have also provided additional financial support to businesses in areas which have remained subject to higher levels of restrictions and we have worked closely with councils to ensure businesses subject to restrictions for a longer period of time remain supported.