Wednesday 13 June 2018

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Constitution and External Affairs

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (Scottish National Party): To ask the what support it can provide to the people of Palestine through its International Development Fund. (S5W-17044) Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government’s new International Development Strategy, published in 2016, focuses our work on four partner countries with which we have strong historic and contemporary links to ensure our £10 million International Development Fund has the greatest impact. Those four partner countries are Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan.

However, Scottish based organisations working in any country whose Human Development scores medium or low on the current United Nations Human Development Index are eligible to apply to our Small Grants Programme for Feasibility or Capacity Building grants of up to £10,000. The State of Palestine is currently ranked as a country of medium human development in the UN’s Human Development Index (ranked 114 in the 2016 HDR), and therefore eligible organisations would be able to apply for these two types of grant within our Small Grants Programme.

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits of migration to the Scottish economy and society. (S5W-17047) Alasdair Allan: Migration is crucial to the development of as an inclusive, fair, prosperous, innovative country. It is essential to our economic prospects and our demographic sustainability that Scotland continues to attract the level and nature of migration it needs.

Following the EU referendum we published a report summarising and evaluating the recent literature on the impacts of migrants and migration on Scotland’s economy, labour market, public services, communities and culture. In November last year we set out the evidence about the importance of migration to Scotland, in our submission to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). We followed that earlier this year with a discussion paper on Scotland’s Population Growth and Migration Policy detailing the unique challenges facing Scotland’s population and the potential economic gains if migration was sustained. The paper also outlines how a tailored approach for Scotland, with new powers for the , could operate. Economy

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding future funding for Scottish hill farmers. (S5W-16637) Fergus Ewing: Over the last year, I have repeatedly pressed my counterpart in the UK government for clarity regarding future funding for Scottish agriculture, including hill farmers.

Most recently, this has included a letter I sent on 23 March 2018, in conjunction with Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Welsh Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths, to the Secretary of State Michael Gove setting out several detailed questions regarding future funding. As no answers to this letter were forthcoming, I again pressed the Secretary of State on this issue at a ministerial meeting on 14 May 2018.

The Secretary of State was unable to provide further clarity at that meeting, and so I have again written to him, with Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Welsh Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths, requesting immediate answers to these questions.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-13174 by Paul Wheelhouse on 20 December 2017, which stakeholders it has met in the last six months to discuss proposals for national fixed pricing on electricity distribution networks; when the meetings took place, and whether it will publish details of the discussions. Holding answer issued: 13 June 2018 (S5W-16965) Paul Wheelhouse: A holding answer was provided.

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on fracking, and what action it is taking to (a) reinforce and (b) publicise this. Holding answer issued: 13 June 2018 (S5W-16967) Paul Wheelhouse: A holding answer was provided.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many companies have received funding under the Digital Skills Fund; how much has been allocated, and what the (a) highest and (b) average award was. (S5W-17118) Keith Brown: There is no Digital Skills Fund. However, I believe the question relates to the Digital Growth Fund, which was announced in March 2017 to offer up to £36m of loans to SMEs to enhance digital skills and capabilities. Phase one of this will be launched in June 2018 with the £2m Digital Development Loan.

After Consultation with the sector , it was decided to increase the scope of the loan to cover SMEs digital capabilities and processes as well as skills attainment.

As such, no loans have been issued as of yet.

Education, Communities and Justice

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it is making to encourage schools to inform students of their apprenticeship choices. (S5O-02222) Jamie Hepburn: Within all Local Authority secondary schools in Scotland, Skills Development Scotland has devised an improved and expanded approach to Career Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG), ensuring that skills intelligence is shaped to inform young people of the opportunities available to them. All learning and skills pathways, including the Apprenticeship family, are explored to ensure each individual makes informed decisions.

From August 2018 we will be significantly increasing the number of Foundation Apprenticeships available in the senior phase of school to around 2600, up from 1200 in the previous year.

This year we will also provide 28,000 Modern Apprenticeship opportunities and of those 28,000 starts around 900 will be Graduate Apprenticeships.

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation in Dumfries and Galloway of Developing the Young Workforce. (S5O-02223) Jamie Hepburn: The Dumfries and Galloway Developing the Young Workforce Regional Group has helped establish school/employer partnerships, enabling work experience placements and encouraging the development of employability skills within the region. Youth Guarantee Coordinators and Employability Coordination Groups, working across the area to support young people in school at risk of not achieving a positive destination, have supported an increase in positive destinations from 87.4% in 2011-12 to 94.6% in 2015-16.

In addition, the industry-led DYW Regional Group in Dumfries and Galloway has facilitated over 140 DYW events and engaged with over 200 businesses, leading to over 3000 young people in Dumfries and Galloway directly benefiting from DYW activity.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing the Independent Review of Student Financial Support in Scotland's recommendation that care-experienced students under 26 should receive a minimum student income of £8,100. (S5O-02224) Shirley-Anne Somerville: Building on the Scottish Government’s existing commitment to support care-experienced young people to access Further and Higher Education, the care-experienced bursary will be increased to £8,100 in 2018-19 with additional funding of more than £5 million provided to support that.

This brings care-experience bursary support in line with the Scottish Living Wage as recommended by the independent Review of Student Support.

Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on 10,000 fewer students being enrolled at Dundee and Angus College compared with 2006, representing a 38% drop. (S5O-02225) Shirley-Anne Somerville: Headcount at Dundee and Angus College has reduced since 2006 primarily because the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) de- prioritised short courses (often around 5 hours) many of which did not lead to a recognised FE or HE qualification, nor increase employability or progression to further or higher learning. Short courses that do lead to a recognised qualification and on to work or progression are still funded.

Headcount figures at colleges are therefore not a reliable indicator of impactful college activity. Full-time equivalent (FTE) numbers are a better reflection of college activity and provide a more accurate picture over the time-series.

Dundee and Angus College’s FTE numbers have remained relatively stable over this time-series, with a reduction of only 378 FTE; while the SFC have ensured the College can continue delivering impactful learning by increasing its core teaching funding allocation to over ‎ £27 million in 2018-19, an increase of 9.3% on the previous year.

Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Public Petitions Committee's call for child rights and wellbeing impact assessments of all armed forces' visits to schools. (S5O-02226) John Swinney: We will consider the recommendations from the Public Petitions Committee report, on Ensuring greater scrutiny, guidance and consultation on armed forces visits to schools in Scotland, and will respond to the Committee in due course. As part of this we will consider the recommendation that the Scottish Government carries out a child rights and wellbeing assessment in relation to armed forces visits to schools.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, what assessment it has made of the financial, operational and public safety impacts of this on railway policing in England and Wales. (S5W-16954) Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has made clear that the integration of British Transport Police in Scotland into Police Scotland is a major programme which must be achieved in an effective, efficient and inclusive manner to safeguard the interests of rail users, the rail industry, the general public, rail staff, and police officers and staff. The Joint Programme Board overseeing the integration, which comprises all partners, seeks to ensure as far as possible that there is no detriment to railway policing in Scotland or the rest of Great Britain.

The re-planning exercise that is currently underway has been complemented by a refresh and strengthening of Programme governance arrangements. These arrangements will include robust assessments of risks and costs throughout the delivery of the integration Programme.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Mobilisation, Transition and Transformation Programme was stood down from its work in relation to the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, and what progress has been made on the merger since then. (S5W-16955) Humza Yousaf: The Mobilisation Transition and Transformation (MTT) Programme was established to: coordinate the requirements for operational integration; to design and implement a transition plan for full integration at 1 April 2019; and to consider future transformation of the service. The detailed work it undertook informed the decision to delay integration, having established that significant operational aspects would not be ready by April 2019. Following that decision, and to complement the re-planning exercise, a decision was taken by Joint Programme Board partners to refresh and strengthen the Programme’s governance arrangements, which has led to the creation of a cross-organisational Programme Management Office.

A critical path for the re-plan has been developed and detailed workshops are now underway. We anticipate that the re-planning exercise will be completed by the end of August, at which point the Programme will be subject to a robust, independent deliverability assessment in mid-September.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the merger of the British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland, what progress has been made on the development of railway policing agreements, and when a final draft will be presented. (S5W-16956) Humza Yousaf: The development of railway policing agreements is on-going. There are interdependencies with other parts of the Programme, for example the cost allocation model, and so there will be a clearer picture on timescales once the‎ re-planning exercise is completed.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether the upgrade of the Police Scotland IT system requires to be completed prior to the merger of British Transport Police in Scotland (BTP) with Police Scotland; whether public safety would be compromised in relation to railway policing if the system is not in place by then; whether its completion would be delayed in the absence of a reported £200 million required in additional funding, and whether the required upgrade cost includes the cost of new/upgrades ICT for BTP. (S5W-16957) Humza Yousaf: Our first priority is always public safety and our risk appetite, as agreed through the Joint Programme Board, remains low. Until the re- planning exercise is completed, it would be premature to make comment on ICT requirements and costs.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) current and (b) projected cost is of the merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland; from whom it commissioned estimates, and from which budget the costs will be met. (S5W-16958) Humza Yousaf: Until the re-planning exercise is complete, it would be premature to make comment on the costs of integration, which will evolve as the Programme develops and decisions are reached.

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what the new transition date will be for the merger of British Transport Police in Scotland with Police Scotland and, if this is not yet set, when it will be, and on what basis it reached that conclusion. (S5W-16959) Humza Yousaf: We anticipate that the re-planning exercise will be completed by the end of August. The Programme will then be subject to a robust, independent deliverability assessment, before an announcement is made on a revised date for integration.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have there been each year for breaches of the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004. (S5W-17012) Michael Matheson: There was 1 offence prosecuted in 2012-13 under the Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2004, which resulted in a conviction.

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database to 2016-17.

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has given to Taylor Wimpey in the last two years (a) through its Help to Buy scheme and (b) for any other reason. (S5W-17017) Kevin Stewart: Scottish Government funding for the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme is not given directly to builders. The funding provides an equity stake for purchasers who cannot afford to buy without assistance from the scheme.

There has been no other known Scottish Government funding to Taylor Wimpey in the past two years. Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what the ratio of pupils to school music teachers has been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority. (S5W-17033) John Swinney: The number of school music teachers, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.9, 8.9, 9.8 and 10.2):

(from 2010 onwards) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/teachcenssuppdata

(before 2010) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/PubTeacherCensus

The number of pupils, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the Pupil Census (Table 5.2): http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many school librarians there have been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority. (S5W-17034) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-13576 on 9 January 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government how many school music teachers there have been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority. (S5W-17035) John Swinney: The number of school music teachers, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.9, 8.9, 9.8 and 10.2):

(from 2010 onwards) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/teachcenssuppdata

(before 2010) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/PubTeacherCensus

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what the ratio of pupils to school support staff has been in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority. (S5W-17036) John Swinney: The number of school support staff, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the School Staff Census (Tables 7.11, 8.11, 9.9 and 10.3). These data only include support staff in the listed categories, other categories of support staff are not captured by the census.

(from 2010 onwards) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/teachcenssuppdata

(before 2010) http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School- Education/PubTeacherCensus

The number of pupils, broken down by local authority, can be found in the results of the Pupil Census (Table 5.2): http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/dspupcensus

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle so-called county lines and cuckooing processes reportedly used by drug gangs to spread their networks and set up business in new areas. (S5W-17038) Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government worked with the UK Government on the introduction of Drug Dealing Telecommunications Restriction Orders (DDTROs) which enables Police Scotland to apply to a Sheriff Court for an order to close down a mobile device or mobile telephone number and disrupt the flow of drugs and the activity of organised crime groups. This is one of a range of measures available to Police Scotland to address the issue of county lines and cuckooing and it will be an operational matter for Police Scotland to determine which measures are appropriate in any particular investigation.

Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers routinely carry Tasers. (S5W-17043) Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally. It is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated to the Falkirk Council area from the CashBack for Communities scheme since 2008. (S5W-17051) Michael Matheson: Young people in Falkirk have directly benefitted from £1,296, 579 of CashBack for Communities investment from 2008 to 2017. Over this period this investment has delivered nearly 78, 000 activities across Falkirk.

Phase 4 of CashBack started on 1 April 2017. The Scottish Government are investing £17 million across 17 new programmes that are focussed on disadvantaged young people in every Local Authority across Scotland. This will further build on the success of the CashBack programme.

Health and Social Care

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the number of people in Scotland with phenylketonuria who are unable to consume the artificial sweetener, aspartame, and whether it has discussed with (a) the UK Government and (b) HM Revenue and Customs the impact on this group of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. (S5W-16961) Aileen Campbell: Following the announcement by the UK Government of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, many drinks manufacturers completed programmes to reformulate sugary drinks to lower or zero alternatives. I understand that much of this reformulation used or stevia, both sweeteners that can be safely consumed by people with phenylketonuria (PKU).

Scottish Government officials have had discussions with HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs about the Soft Drinks Industry Levy but the impact of those with PKU was not raised in those discussions. The Scottish Government takes this condition seriously which is why at around 5 days old, babies are offered new-born blood spot screening to check if they have PKU or a number of other conditions. If PKU is confirmed, treatment will be given‎ straight away to reduce the risk of serious complications.

It is important that accurate labelling helps those with PKU make informed choices about their food and drink. I am advised by Food Standards Scotland that the only sweeteners that can break down to form phenylalanine are aspartame (E 951) or the salt of aspartame acesulfame (E 962). Under the food information legislation (Reg 1169/2011) any product containing these sweeteners are required to state on the label either:

• ‘contains aspartame (a source of phenylalanine)’ on the label if aspartame/ aspartame-acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients only by their or,

• ‘contains a source of phenylalanine’ in cases where aspartame/aspartame- acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients by their specific name.

The sweetener advantame (E 969) only produces very small amounts of phenylalanine and so does not need the phenylalanine labelling. This is as the European Authority concluded “for a phenylketonuric child, the additional phenylalanine intake expected from ingestion of advantame- containing foods and beverages would represent a relatively small increment in the exposure to phenylalanine.

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that there is a shortage of the hepatitis B vaccine for staff, particularly for nurses and other ancillary workers, in NHS Lothian. (S5W-16970) Aileen Campbell: Since mid-2017 the NHS in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom has experienced a shortage of hepatitis B vaccine due to global manufacturing issues. The vaccine supply position was very constrained in 2017. In August 2017 Scotland adopted temporary recommendations which provided advice on assessment of individual risk prioritisation of vaccine for those at highest immediate need.

NHS National Procurement continues to liaise closely with vaccine manufacturers to provide Health Protection Scotland and the NHS across Scotland updates with respect to the supply position and specifically available allocations of vaccine.

Vaccine supplies have improved in 2018 as manufacturing issues in the major supplier of hepatitis B vaccine have resolved. Supplies have remained constrained due to backlog demand from 2017 and reduced UK supply from another manufacturer. With the improving supply position there has been a move toward a phased introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in lower priority groups, including for use in occupational health services.

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the refresh of the Alcohol Framework, and by what date the updated framework will be published. (S5W-16981) Aileen Campbell: Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol : A Framework for Action was published in 2009 and many of its original measures have been completed. These include the introduction of our world first minimum unit pricing policy, a lower drink drive limit, improved substance misuse education and our nationwide alcohol brief intervention programme.

A refresh of our Alcohol Framework will be published later this year and will focus on embedding and building on the progress we have made in tackling alcohol-related harm. This forms part of a suite of public health strategies being published this year including tobacco control, physical activity, diet and obesity and our new alcohol & drug treatment strategy.

Transport Scotland

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether any of the contractors or sub- contractors involved in the construction of the A737 Dalry Bypass are participating in or have previously participated in the blacklisting of workers. (S5W-16884) Humza Yousaf: Prior to being permitted to be on a tender list, for a Transport Scotland contract, all applicants must first declare if they have been involved in blacklisting. Farrans Roadbridge (FRBJV), the contractor for the A737 Dalry Bypass, has confirmed that they have not at any stage previously, nor will they at any time during the period of the A737 Dalry Bypass Contract engage or participate in blacklisting activities in the employment of workers, whether this be directly employed labour or through any FRBJV engaged sub contractors. As such, FRBJV has signed a declaration to Transport Scotland stating this to be the case.

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on including the A70 and the Bellfield Interchange as part of its transport infrastructure review of the south west of Scotland. Holding answer issued: 13 June 2018 (S5W-16949) Humza Yousaf: A holding answer was provided.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government for how many of the trains between Edinburgh in Glasgow that have have been cancelled in 2018 was an alternative public transport method offered. (S5W-16990) Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. However, Schedule 1.2 para. 8.3 of the Franchise Agreement requires ScotRail “to use all reasonable endeavours to secure the provision of alternative transport arrangements and passage on such alternative transport arrangements to enable passengers affected by such disruption to complete their intended journeys”.

During times of disruption, ScotRail will also enable ticket acceptance with local and regional bus operators.

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government how many passenger complaints ScotRail has received in each year since 2008. (S5W-16991) Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government does not have the specific information asked for because it does not hold details of how many complaints ScotRail have received each year since 2008, which pre-dates the current ScotRail franchise which commenced on 1 April 2015.

However, Abellio ScotRail have reported total customer complaints of 28,956 for the 12 months ending 31 March 2018. This compares 26,996 total customer complaints reported for the 12 months ending 31 March 2017. There is no total figure available for the 12 months ending 31 March 2016 as customer services were initially delivered by Serco prior to transferring to Abellio shared services. The latest ORR complaints rate by Train Operating Company (TOC) graph for 2016-17 shows that, of 22 TOCs measured, ScotRail were ranked the sixth best in terms of complaints per 100,000 journeys. Full details are available at: http://orr.gov.uk/_data/assets/pdf_file/0006/24927/passenger-rail-service- complaints-2016-17-q4-pdf

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that no new lorry parks will be available at Dover following Brexit, what other transport options will be available to Scottish companies that export goods. (S5W-17048) Humza Yousaf: Despite potential parking difficulties at Dover, all existing routes to mainland Europe remain in available. However, for 'just in time' deliveries, such as fresh fish and shellfish, the Dover to Calais route remains vital as the only viable option to allow goods to reach European markets on time.

Scottish Ministers and officials continue to engage with the UK Government to stress both the importance of continued access to Europe for Scottish exporters, and the consequences of any additional border and Customs delays as a result of leaving the EU.

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government for what reason parts of the Appraisal of Options for the Specification of the 2018 Northern Isles Ferry Services Final Report have been redacted and, in light of this, what its position is on how elected representatives and others will be able to effectively scrutinise and advise on its content. (S5W-17052) Humza Yousaf: The information has been redacted due to commercial sensitivity considerations relating to the operator of the current Public Service contract. This is a standard practice where required when publishing reports containing commercially sensitive information.

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with its plans to establish low emissions zones; where these will be located, and what the timescale is for their implementation. (S5W-17053) Humza Yousaf: We have committed to introducing Low Emission Zones into Scotland’s four biggest cities between 2018 and 2020, and then into all other Air Quality Management Areas 2023 where evidence supports such mitigation. Glasgow City Council have stated that their LEZ will be put in place by the end of 2018 and City of Edinburgh Council are seeking to introduce an LEZ in 2019.

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): To ask the Scottish Government when an announcement on the future of the Air Discount Scheme, currently running until 31 March 2019, will be made. (S5W-17072) Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme and will make a formal announcement on the continuation of the scheme in due course. As the discount is applied at the point of purchase, it should be noted that scheme members can already receive a discount when they book flights beyond 31 March 2019.