Chamber and committees

Scotland’s Wild Salmon Strategy commits to publish an accompanying Implementation Plan. A Stakeholder Advisory Group is advising on the development of the Implementation Plan. The Plan will set out the detailed actions to be taken by Government, industry and the third sector to achieve our vision of flourishing populations of wild salmon in Scotland.

The Scottish Government cannot comment or provide legal advice on hypothetical questions of liability. Whether a person is liable in a particular scenario will depend on the individual facts and circumstances.

Last August we launched the Pig Producers Hardship Support Scheme. This scheme initially provided £715,000 of funding to producers and was specifically aimed to support those affected by the temporary closure of the Quality Pig Processors plant at Brechin and the loss of the plant’s export licence to China. We extended the scheme twice for producers who supplied QPP Brechin, with the total support delivered via the scheme now amounting to approximately £1.8 million. We were also aware of the issues in the sector with regard to the shortage of butchers and introduced a private storage aid scheme in Scotland to support processing.

Scottish pig producers have also been impacted by the UK Government decision to avoid implementing import controls earlier this year. That decision has left our domestic producers at disadvantage.

We are also consulting, alongside the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland DAERA on contractual practices in the UK pig sector with the aim of supporting a competitive and resilient sector that delivers benefits for producers.

The Scottish Government is very much aware of the pressures high fuel costs are placing on inshore scallop fishers and the fishing industry in general. Although the fishing industry benefits from red diesel relief, fuel remains a major part of fishing business costs, no more so than in the scallop sector.

The Scottish Government has a strong track record of supporting the scallop sector, including targeted action through the impacts of Covid. Through our Modernisation of the Inshore Fishing Fleet Programme we are also funding installation of remote electronic monitoring (REM) equipment for all scallop dredge vessels. Supported by the industry, this will help enhance the inshore fisheries evidence base, improve compliance, and enable better interaction between the fishing industry and other marine users. Consumers and retailers seek confidence and accountability in our seafood products, and REM helps to satisfy this demand and deliver associated market benefits. In addition, looking to the longer term we continue to work with the industry and support research into reducing fishing vessel reliance on diesel.

The powers to offer financial support to the fishing industry on the scale required to deal with the high cost of fuel rests with Westminster. We have regularly urged the UK Government to use all the levers at its disposal to tackle the cost crisis for business and provide the necessary support, including to the seafood sector. We are doing all we can to support business and the economy at this time. However, with a fixed budget, and little scope to borrow to deal with such short term challenges, our hands are tied. We are however continuing to actively engage with the UK Government, and press for further support for all industries.

The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the outcomes of further research to ensure that any decisions to make Evusheld ® available to patients in Scotland in the future are based on the best available evidence. The RAPID C-19 group is a collaborative UK-wide partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and others. To date, the RAPID C-19 group and the COVID-19 UK expert panel have both considered a full range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro (in the laboratory) analysis and observational studies and have advised that there is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the procurement and deployment of Evusheld ® .

The RAPID C-19 group is keeping this position under active review, including through monitoring any emerging data. Building on the work of the RAPID C-19 group, the SMC is exploring the potential for collaboration with NICE on a single technology assessment (STA) of tixagevimab–cilgavimab (Evusheld ® ) for the prevention of COVID-19. In order to gain further evidence, consideration is also being given to establishing a clinical trial as a route to answering outstanding questions on the link between in vitro tests and clinical outcomes for current and future variants, which is currently not known. The trial may also assist with evaluating the effectiveness and safety of a higher dose of 600mg, which is now being used in a number of countries, which have previously purchased Evusheld®, as this was not tested in the company’s randomised controlled trials.

I have recently written to the UK Government supporting the establishment of a clinical trial and stating my wish to see individuals in Scotland included.

The decision not to procure Evusheld ® at this time has been taken based on clinical advice, rather cost.

The RAPID C-19 group is a collaborative UK-wide partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and others. To date, the RAPID C-19 group and the COVID-19 UK expert panel have both considered a full range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro (in the laboratory) analysis and observational studies and have advised that there is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the procurement and deployment of Evusheld ® .

The Scottish Government continues to closely monitor the outcome of further research to ensure that any decisions to make Evusheld ® available to patients in Scotland in the future are based on the best available evidence.

Following the A9 Dualling Co-Creative Process and other consultations Transport Scotland is currently progressing design and assessment work to identify a preferred route option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling. It is expected that a preferred route option will be announced in the coming months, with all four options currently under consideration improving access to Dunkeld and Birnam station. If the option selected impinges or interferes with the operation of the station then we will also look to improve accessibility for road and rail users.

As previously stated Rail accessibility is a reserved matter for the UK government and the criteria for selection for an accessibility scheme is set by the Department for Transport and assessed by them via the Access for All scheme:- Access for All: funding to improve accessibility at rail stations - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ). Currently, Dunkeld and Birnam station does not meet the UK government’s criteria for accessibility investment. At this moment in time, there are no plans to update the railway station.

The works to resurface the A9 around the A822/A923 junction at Dunkeld were completed in late 2021, including changes to road markings to prohibit overtaking through the junction. Illuminated road studs were also installed as part of these works to provide better definition of the junctions during darkness. Solar powered illuminated bollards were also installed at five junctions between the B867 and Dalguise.

In advance of future dualling works Transport Scotland is currently considering further short-term improvements for the A9 between Perth and Inverness, which includes the Birnam and Dunkeld junctions. Officials met with community representatives from the area on 31 October to discuss road safety performance and the scope for short term improvements.