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The Scottish Government, unlike the UK Government, included a requirement within the Scottish High Level Output Specification (HLOS) for Network Rail (NR) to take action on climate change during this Regulatory Control Period.

For the period 2019-2024, the Scottish Government is providing funding to support a 21% increase in NR spending on operation, maintenance and renewal activities on the Scottish rail network. This is in line with the Office of Rail and Road’s independent determination of costs necessary to deliver safety, performance and resilience requirements, including Climate Change action.

In March of this year, NR published two reports from independently commissioned experts following the derailment at Carmont. The work was a recommendation from the NR Interim Report on the Carmont derailment published in September 2020, to establish two task forces examining in detail NR’s GB wide management of extreme weather and earthworks.

In October 2019 PWC provided support and detailed analysis on a full range of options for Ferguson Marine. Scottish Ministers considered the evidence and on that basis the Scottish Government stepped in to take ownership, to ensure a viable future for the yard, it's workforce and completion of the much needed vessels. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with the yard to explore all possible options to ensure a viable future for the business.

To improve the resilience of ferry services serving island and remote mainland communities, we are exploring opportunities for chartering additional tonnage including the temporary time charter of the MV Pentalina. Industrial relations are a matter for CalMac Ferries Ltd, its employees and the recognised trades unions. I understand discussions have been taking place between CalMac and its local Union representatives on these matters.

CalMac Ferries Ltd will apply its standard ticketing arrangements and fares for whatever route the MV Pentalina is operating on.

While our aim is to release information whenever possible, due to the commercially sensitive nature of the information in this instance, we are unable to disclose the findings of the report.

The Scottish Government is working with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and ferry operators to develop and deliver a programme of major and small vessel replacements. Detail of the current programme is included in Annex D of the Infrastructure Investment Plan.

A National Mission with Local Impact: Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Most recently, CMAL provided an update on the new vessel for Islay with the first phase tender process scheduled to take place during the summer 2021.

CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets LtdPROCUREMENT OF NEW ISLAY FERRY GETS UNDERWAY - CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (cmassets.co.uk)

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. COVID-19 death data is published by National Records of Scotland, but is not currently available for these pre-existing health conditions.

CMAL employ a number of shipbrokers in their continuing search for second hand tonnage and engage closely with CalMac Ferries Ltd. In 2020 and up to 31 May 2021, CMAL assessed 133 vessels for possible suitability to operate on Scottish Government ferry routes.

No agreement has been signed between CalMac and Pentland Ferries as commercial discussions are still taking place

The maximum passenger and vehicle carrying capacity of the vessels in the CalMac fleet that normally operate the routes they will consider deploying the MV Pentalina on, if chartered, are detailed in the following table.