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The Scottish Government remains committed to our vision of an affordable, zero carbon and modern transport system. Section 3.3.32 of the Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032 (released in December 2020) committed that “30% of Scottish Government owned ferries will be low emission by 2032”, and so this pledge remains extant.

The Scottish Government is supportive of a circular economy and the exploration of waste capture systems. Innovation plays a significant role in addressing a range of challenges faced by the aquaculture sector including reducing environmental impacts, and it will play a major role in the future sustainability of the aquaculture sector.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for regulating organic waste and chemical discharges from Scottish fish farms under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. SEPA carries out regular inspections of fish farm premises and can check the means by which controlled waste from these is being kept, transported and disposed of by the operators of these farms and that the duty of care is being followed.

SEPA launched its new regulatory framework and sector plan for finfish aquaculture in 2019. All fish farms in Scotland have to meet strict environmental guidelines, monitored by SEPA with the aim of ensuring that the environmental impacts from the industry are assessed and managed safely.

SEPA continues to work with, and provide advice to, developers and innovators wishing to introduce techniques for reducing or capturing farm waste.

The Scottish Government has not held discussions about a single UK-wide missing persons database.

Since 2016, Police Scotland has recorded detailed statistical information on their National Missing Persons Database (NMPD) of every missing person investigation it has undertaken. In 2019, Police Scotland rolled out the National Missing Persons Application (NMPA) across the entire force, replacing NMPD, to provide available details that help officers make informed investigative decisions to trace a missing person as quickly and safely as possible.

All UK forces inform the National Crime Agency if a person has been missing for more than 72 hours. If Police Scotland have reason to believe that a person has travelled to another part of the UK they will contact and work with that force directly.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-10758 on 20 September 2022. 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

The UK Government advise that current measures in place against Russian products should prevent any such steel entering the UK from Russia. They further advise that they have not been made aware of any issues on this matter.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on‎ 29 September 2022. 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

We are aware from other infrastructure projects that construction costs have been impacted by increases in inflation, as well as a rise in materials, fuel and wages as a result of the pandemic, exit from the European Union and the situation in Ukraine. The full impacts will not be known until the tender bid and evaluation stage for the Ardrossan project has been undertaken.

The National Collections are an important part of Scotland’s culture. As part of setting and reviewing annual budgets for grant in aid, the Scottish Government maintains close contact with National Museums Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland about their cost and revenue, in order to continue to ensure that their permanent collections remain open to the public free of charge.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-11081 on‎ 29 September 2022. 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

Scottish Ministers are required by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to review the National Outcomes within five years of their previous publication. The 2015 Act stipulates the consultation requirements, including its period, consultees, and requirement to consult with and lay a final report in the Parliament.

I confirmed to the Finance and Public Administration Committee our plans for the review of the National Outcomes on two occasions ( 21 September 2021 and 31 May 2022 ) explaining that the external engagement for the Review will commence in 2022, with the aim of laying the statutory report in Parliament during the third Parliamentary term in 2023.