Five of the sixteen recovered whooper swan carcases found dead in the Fairnington area in the Scottish Borders inDecember 2017 were identified as having died from lead poisoning as a result of ingesting lead of an unknown type and that they had not been shot.

The cause of death for the remaining eleven whooper swans was not identified although, as they were found in exactly the same set of circumstances, it is highly likely they suffered the same fate. However, this could not be confirmed during post mortem due to the advanced state of decomposition in most of the carcases.

It is not possible to say where and when the swans ingested the lead. It is understood the swans migrated from Iceland to the UK for the winter and the lead could have been ingested anywhere on that journey or before, during or after. There is no evidence to suggest the swans ingested the lead over a wetland area, although this remains a possibility. There is no wildfowling undertaken at the location where they were found.

Whilst there are constraints, under State Aids regulations, on the public sector in terms of the financial support available to large seafood businesses such as Young's Seafood, since 2008 Scottish Enterprise has provided £70,500 of financial support to Young’s Seafood covering a number of projects across their three core sites at Fraserburgh, Livingston and Annan. This support covered a range of projects, including training, innovation and capital expenditure. In addition, Scottish Enterprise Account Managers and Technical Specialists have provided intellectual advice and support covering business efficiency, environmental and renewable issues, workforce programmes and innovation.

In 2015 a Scottish Government task force worked closely with Young’s Seafood at its Fraserburgh site following the loss of a large contract. The task force initiated a range of small projects with Young’s in an effort to continue production at that site, including a market analysis, training plan, and an environmental assessment.

This is a matter for Audit Scotland, who were wholly responsible for the appointment of members of the advisory group.

The Scottish Government has not awarded any contracts to the Kier Group over the period from May 2016.

The following table details the level of investment that Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited has spent on Gourock Harbour in each year since 2011-12.

Scotland remains well connected through a range of multimodal services operating from ports throughout Scotland. The Scottish Government does not hold information on the specific impact to the economy of the withdrawal of the DFDS Rosyth-Zeebrugge freight ferry service. However I have been in contact with various stakeholders, including Forth Ports, to ensure that efforts are being made to minimise disruption to those who used the route and that they are aware of alternative services available to them.

The terms for purchasing the MV Hamnavoe, the MV Hjaltland and the MV Hrossey are commercially sensitive. Release of this information would be in breach of the confidentiality agreements with the vendor, the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The Scottish Government has not held discussions with the UK Government regarding the fire on the Finlandia Seaways vessel. However, I have held discussions with both Forth Ports and DFDS following the announcement that the route was to be cancelled and will be meeting with Forth Ports in the near future to discuss this further.

No date has been set. Arrangements for the way forward for the Gourock-Dunoon service will be announced shortly.

Serco Northlink Ferries (SNF), as operator of the vessels, have responsibility for maintenance. SNF consider that details of maintenance costs is commercially sensitive information and so should not be released.