Chamber and committees

As stated in the Programme for Government, we will take the lead in promoting the use of ultra low emission vehicles. One method to achieve this vision will be by increasing the number of ChargePlace Scotland rapid chargers, building on plans set out in “Switched on Scotland Phase Two: An Action Plan For Growth” which empowers the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and its stakeholders to identify, manage and deliver a programme of investment to expand the charging network infrastructure and increase the uptake of electric vehicles.

Aviation safety is a matter reserved to the UK Government. While disruptive behaviour remains rare, when it does happen the impact can be significant. Anyone travelling on air services should be able to do so without having their journeys disrupted by drunk or unruly passengers.

We are supportive of the ‘UK Aviation Industry Code of Practice on Disruptive Passengers’ which sets out how different stakeholders can work individually and collectively to reduce the incidences of disruptive behaviour and to act to minimise the impact where they do occur.

There are good examples of action being taken at individual airports. Campus Watch at Glasgow Airport promotes a one-campus partnership approach to address disruptive behaviour and to reassure passengers and airline staff that safety is paramount. The initiative aims to reduce the number of disruptive passenger incidents on outbound flights from Glasgow Airport. Campus Watch was introduced in 2013 in partnership with Police Scotland to tackle disruptive behaviour at Glasgow Airport and provides training, advice and support to staff across the airport who interact with passengers on a daily basis. This includes check-in staff, security teams, bar and restaurant employees, retailers and airlines.

The draft Climate Change Plan sets out how we propose to drive down transport emissions. The Plan includes a number of catalytic actions which aim to reduce emissions and end the need for individuals to purchase petrol or diesel cars by 2032. This comes through increased support for electric vehicles, the establishment of Scotland's first low emission zone and continued support for active travel and car share programmes. These sit alongside measures such as the greening of Scotland's bus fleet and a transition to low carbon solutions at Scotland's airports and ports.

The Plan sits alongside its sister documents, The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland and Switched-on Scotland Phase 2: An Action Plan for Growth which further detail how we will reduce transport emissions through improvements in vehicle technology and a switch to sustainable modes.

We are also steadily increasing investment in low carbon transport, with the Programme for Government announcing the doubling of our active travel budget from £40 to £80 million.

We are continuing to take forward record investment in new major roads projects across the country, with significant milestones being met across the roads portfolio.

We are also taking forward a programme of work comprising £174m investment in new construction contracts, creating jobs and development opportunities and contributing to sustainable inclusive economic growth across Scotland. This programme of works comprises A737 Dalry Bypass, A9 Dualling Luncarty to Pass of Birnam, A9 Berriedale Braes. A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement, A77 Maybole Bypass and A737 The Den.

Alongside the National Transport Strategy (NTS) review, planning is underway for the review of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which will allow the Scottish Government to consider which transport interventions are required to deliver the outcomes and vision that emerge from the NTS. The new strategy will establish the strategic direction for transport in Scotland over the next 20 years.

As the aircraft carrier was constructed using a modular approach supported by multiple supply chains throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, identifying the exact economic impact of the project to a regional area such as Fife is highly complex. However, we do know that the Aircraft Carrier Alliance has placed a number of sub-contracts directly with Scottish-based companies, totalling c.£300 million across 21 suppliers.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has also stated that to the end of January 2016, the MOD had paid around £3.462 billion to BAE Systems on the Clyde (c.£2.073 billion) and to Babcock at Rosyth (c.£1.389 billion) on the Queen Elizabeth Carrier programme.

The number of care homes in each local authority area by (a) public and (b) private care homes is set out in the following table.

LGBTI+ Training

Social Service workers and employers must adhere to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice. The Codes set out the standards of practice and behaviour expected of everyone who works in social services in Scotland. The standards include protecting the rights of people who use services; respect the rights of people who use services; promote diversity and respect different cultures and values. Employer must ensure that their staff have the skills and knowledge to undertake their role.

We do not hold information centrally on specific training carried out in care homes. All registered care workers must meet the minimum standards of education set by the SSSC and continuously update their skills and knowledge to maintain their registration.

Aviation is pivotal in supporting the Scottish Government’s purpose of sustainable economic growth and we work closely with Scotland’s airports to help secure new routes that improve business connectivity and inbound tourism.

Our commitment to deliver a 50% reduction in the overall burden of Air Departure Tax (ADT) by the end of this parliament and to abolish the tax entirely when resources allow will support these efforts.

Additional runways in Scotland will not be required in the short to medium term and the Scottish Government does not plan to create additional runways at the airports it owns.

The Edinburgh Airport Masterplan 2016-2040 outlines that the airport have safeguarded land for a new second runway, however they believe that future growth can be handled by the current runway.

Glasgow Airport’s 2011 draft Master Plan identified that by the end of the period reviewed, nearing 2040, the existing single runway would approach its capacity limits and there would be a need to either evaluate the means of increasing runway capacity or reviewing options for a second runway. Their plan considered both options.

The Scottish Government periodically commissions analysis which benchmarks the level of air service connectivity to and from Scotland against peer regions in Europe. The most recent benchmarking analysis for 2011-2015 was completed in July 2015.

After compiling the benchmarking report, a gap analysis of the destinations served by peer regions which Scotland might also aspire to have, based on economic importance, origin and destination demand, along with the identification of potential airline operators, was used to identify potential new short and long haul routes that could be served from Scotland. A significant amount of work has already been done to secure these routes, working in partnership with Scotland’s airports. That work will continue.

We have also recently undertaken further route analysis work to assess potential demand which we have used to help identify the airlines we aim to meet at the World Route Development Forum next month. This event brings airlines, airports and aviation stakeholders together to discuss both existing routes as well as potential new routes.

Given the commercial nature of the analysis undertaken, we have not published this information as by doing so could put Scottish airports at a disadvantage when competing with other airports to secure new routes.

Any further expansion of Aberdeen Airport would be a commercial decision for the owners of the airport, AGS Airports Limited.

The First Minister visited Aberdeen International Airport in February 2016 to unveil details of a £20 million investment plan for the airport. I am aware that the airport are making progress with their terminal transformation with the recent opening of their new international arrivals facility in May this year, closely followed by their new domestic arrivals facility in July. We will continue to support Aberdeen Airport to secure new routes which improve connectivity for business or provide new opportunities for inbound tourism.