We initially estimated the total contract value at some £370 million. It is for the operator to deliver costed service solutions that fall within that initial value.

Although annual subsidy requirements will be published on a retrospective basis, financial details of the successful bidder's tender, including improvements to the terminal facilities at Hatston, Kirkwall, will remain commercially confidential.

This remains a live procurement and there is a limit on what further information can be provided at this time. A redacted version of the signed contract will subsequently be made available on Transport Scotland's website.

As I announced on 20 September 2019, cabin fares on Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick routes will be reduced by 20% for islanders and we will also introduce a three-year islander fares freeze for passengers, non-commercial vehicles and cabins on those routes.

I can therefore confirm that these fare reductions will come into effect on 1 January 2020.

A subsidy claw back provision is included in the 2019-27 contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

A redacted version of the signed contract will subsequently be made available on Transport Scotland's website.

The Scottish Government can confirm that no revenues, or intergroup loans, from Serco Group plc have been used to fund the operation of the current Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS) contract with Serco NorthLink Ferries since July 2012.

Commercial revenues received within the NIFS contract are taken into account when determining the subsidy received from the Scottish Government. i.e. increased revenue received from operating the ferry services reduces the level of Scottish Government subsidy required.

We initially estimated the total contract value at some £370 million. It is for the operator to deliver costed service solutions that fall within that initial value.

Although annual subsidy requirements will be published on a retrospective basis, financial details of the successful bidder's tender, including planned maintenance and dry docking will remain commercially confidential.

This remains a live procurement and there is a limit on what further information can be provided at this time. A redacted version of the signed contract will subsequently be made available on Transport Scotland's website.

Until the new contract for the Northern Isles Ferry Services is awarded, this is a live procurement and there is a limit on what information can be provided. Following completion of the procurement, the detailed terms of David MacBrayne Ltd’s bid will remain subject to commercial confidentiality.

The Scottish Government will invest an additional £15m in additional support for learning to secure additional frontline staff.

The Scottish Government is engaging with CoSLA to agree how this commitment will be implemented. However, the employment of staff is a matter for individual education authorities, and the number of staff employed locally with be determined by each education authority.

The expected impacts of projects taken forward under the Bus Partnership Fund, including the effects on passenger numbers, will differ depending on the scale, type, and location of the investment, and these impacts will be assessed on a per-project basis.

The Reporters submitted their report and recommendation to the Scottish Ministers on 13 September 2019. Ministers are giving full consideration to the issue and will notify the local authority of their decision as soon as possible.

We want all children and young people to receive the support they need to reach their full potential.

We are clear that all school staff provide additional support for learning, not just support for learning staff.

Information on the number of staff employed during each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority can be found here:

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education
/SupportStaff

https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/
teachcenssuppdata

https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20180515164130/
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2010/02/09090009/110 .