We have today published the analysis of responses and, where permission was received, the responses themselves. They can be found on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/consultation-on-free-bus-travel-for-older-and-disabled-people-and-modern-apprentices/.

Also today, I have announced the Scottish Government's response to the consultation, including our decision to retain 60 as the qualifying age.

There is no direct impact. As is currently the case, future changes to fare tariffs brought about by the introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme would lead to an adjustment in the subsidy payable to the operator of the ferry services under the terms of the public service contract.

On routes to Orkney, it has been necessary to engage with commercial operators in respect of introducing the Road Equivalent Tariff scheme on the Pentland Firth routes. To date it has not as yet been possible to reach an agreement.

I am determined to work through the issue to see what more can be done. I will provide a further update to stakeholders and to Parliament as soon as I can, with a view to bringing the full benefits of the scheme to the people of Orkney and Shetland.

The Scottish Government has made no assessment of compliance with its Fair Work Convention for staff at private companies operating commercial ferry services across the Pentland Firth.

As employment law is currently a reserved matter, the Fair Work Framework, developed by the Fair Work convention, is not mandatory, and as such the Scottish Government cannot ensure compliance. The Scottish Government is however actively promoting fair work principles across all employers, in both the public and private sectors.

The Scottish Government has made no assessment of access to trade union representation for staff at Pentland Ferries.

In developing the proposed mechanism to deliver reduced passenger and car fares on ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, there have been a number of discussions between Scottish Ministers, Transport Scotland officials and Pentland Ferries. This included requesting details of past fares revenue on a commercially confidential basis.

On 18 May 2018 the former Minister of Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf MSP, wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Right Honourable Chris Grayling MP, regarding the restructuring of the East Coast Franchise.

In developing the proposed mechanism to deliver reduced passenger and car fares on ferry services to Orkney and Shetland, there have been a number of discussions between Scottish Ministers, Transport Scotland officials and Pentland Ferries. This included requesting details of past annual passenger and vehicle carryings on a commercially confidential basis.

The idea for this pilot project to recruit a cadre of wildlife and rural crime Special Constables was developed following a discussion with Police Scotland, including on the occasional use of Special Constables in Cumbria in support of wildlife crime action. However, we are not aware of specific projects involving Special Constables dedicated to wildlife and rural crime in Cumbria which would be comparable to the pilot scheme currently running in the Cairngorms National Park.

In specifying the tender for the 2012-18 Northern Isles ferry services contract, bidders were invited to make their own analysis of demand for the services and propose timetables accordingly. Following consultation with Transport Scotland, Serco NorthLink subsequently introduced a set of timetables better shaped to fit seasonal demand.

Any cost savings as a result of the revised timetables were reflected in the total bid price for providing the Northern Isles Ferry Service and cannot be split out annually.