Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme has now been replaced by the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Bidders are strongly encouraged to put in place arrangements with partners or collaborators, to minimise the level of subsidy being requested. Bids from domestic manufacturers, or involving domestic manufacturers, will be assessed on the same basis as bids from other eligible parties. Scotland is bound by World Trade Organisation (WTO) subsidy control rules and the WTO’s principle of National Treatment prohibits discrimination between imported and domestically produced goods.

Transport Scotland have ongoing engagement with Peel Ports regarding Ardrossan Harbour re-development and on 12 July 2021 wrote to Peel Ports Group regarding the potential commercial terms of the project. Officials are currently considering the response received from Peel.

I can confirm that we remain committed to a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost effective way reflecting the needs of all of the partners involved.

Manufacturers are represented on the Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, a joint initiative between industry and government to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet. At the Taskforce meeting on the 15 July representatives from the manufacturing sector expressed enthusiasm to rise to the decarbonisation challenge, and confirmed that the supply of zero-emission buses in the coming months and years would not constrain progress. Details of the work of the taskforce and minutes from the meetings can be found on the CPT website - https://www.cpt-uk.org/news/bus-decarbonisation-taskforce/

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02859 on
‎ 24 September 2021. 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

Through the establishment of a Rail Recovery Task Force, attended by Transport Scotland and our rail delivery partners, the focus of the restoration of rail services has been aligning capacity with demand taking into account changing and emerging travel patterns and insight into passengers’ expectations/concerns.

We have supported bus operators throughout the pandemic, providing up to
‎ £42 million until the end of this financial year. Operators receiving our funding enter into public service contracts and are required to meet certain conditions including running services close to 100% of pre-COVID levels and consulting with local transport authorities in keeping services under review.

In addition, the Government continues to support island and remote communities, working closely with ferry operators and other stakeholders throughout all stages of the pandemic including the approach to recovery.

(a) Four Transport Scotland officials participated in a series of live and virtual events during London International Shipping Week 2021.

(b) Three Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd officials attended events, although one of the officials was there in their capacity as an Executive Director of the Scottish Maritime Cluster.

Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) is delivered across the public, private, third and childminding sectors. Since August 2021, all local authority areas have put in place an expanded offer of up to 1140 hours of funded ELC for all eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

Funded ELC is delivered in a ‘provider neutral’ way, which means that families can access high quality funded ELC with the provider of their choice – in the public, private, third sector or a childminder – if that provider meets the criteria set out in our National Standard, has a space available, and is in contract with their local authority to deliver the funded hours.

Sustainable and thriving public, private, third and childminding sectors are essential if we are to realise the full benefits of the ELC expansion. The landmark multi-year funding agreement reached by Scottish Government and COSLA in April 2018 to fully fund the expansion to 1140 hours includes funding for the payment of sustainable rates that reflect the cost of delivery and enable payment of the real Living Wage to childcare workers delivering the funded entitlement. In addition, the Scottish Government announced on 4 December 2020 that qualifying day nurseries will continue to benefit from 100% relief on non-domestic rates until at least June 2023.

The Scottish Government has also taken a range of actions to support providers in the private, third, and childminding sectors during the pandemic, including making available more than £22 million of dedicated support.

On 31 August the Scottish Government published the Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland . The Health Check collected evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, in particular in light of the impacts of COVID-19. It set out a range of actions to improve sector sustainability, including:

• Developing a programme of targeted business, financial management, marketing and human resources support for all types of childcare services.
• Developing a five year workforce strategy to support recruitment and retention in the sector and introducing a Childcare Taster Programme as part of the National Transitions Training Fund in 2021-22.
• Strengthening the process for local authorities to set sustainable rates for providers in the private, third and childminding sectors to deliver funded ELC; and
• Reviewing the administrative requirements on providers, particularly for private, third and childminding sector services.

Each of these actions will help us to support the sector to recover from Covid and get onto a sustainable footing so that they can continue playing a vital role in delivering our ambitious vision for expanding high quality early learning and childcare.

We continue to engage with Peel Ports; and remain committed to finding a solution at Ardrossan that delivers value for money and provides facilities that best meets the needs of ferry users and vessel operations.

This would be a matter for North Ayrshire Council to consider. However we continue to work closely with North Ayrshire Council to secure an appropriate outcome for Ardrossan.