I am advised by my officials in Transport Scotland that the finalisation of the Single Option is being revised by Network Rail to ensure alignment with wider improvements proposed for the Aberdeen-Central Belt route, including future electrification. I expect an update from Transport Scotland on this matter imminently.

The Scottish Government intends to achieve the required Aberdeen to Central Belt project outputs by the end of 2026.

I am advised by my officials in Transport Scotland that Network Rail is refining its proposed scope of works for the Aberdeen to Central Belt project, which will be considered by the Scottish Ministers in the new year.

The Scottish Government is planning to deliver the identified Aberdeen to Central Belt funding by the end of 2026. The funding will be spent on a series of infrastructure upgrades including signal enhancements and specific capacity alternations to facilitate the operation of more and faster trains on the same route.

The Scottish freight gauge programme identified several sections of the Aberdeen to Central Belt route that would benefit from infrastructure interventions to allow larger intermodal freight containers that are common in road haulage which would support modal shift from road to rail. Such works would also facilitate the clearances between trains and infrastructure necessary for electrification.

The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising Scotland’s passenger railway by 2035. In line with the Decarbonisation Action Plan, the intention is to decarbonise the Aberdeen to Central Belt route by 2030.

The operation and administration of the £5m recently announced at COP27 to address loss and damage will be managed within the existing resourcing structure for the International Climate Change Policy Team, within the International Climate Change Division at the Scottish Government. The team has six full-time equivalent (FTE) members of staff at a range of civil service grades involved in delivering international climate policy work including the Climate Justice Fund . Four of the six FTE members of staff will primarily be involved in overseeing and supporting the disbursement of the £5 million.

The Scottish Government does not have any business need to record the proportion of time that members of staff devote to specific aspects of their duties. Consequently, the Scottish Government does not have exact administrative costs for the Climate Justice Fund, including the £5 million for loss and damage. However, the grading of the six FTE team members are as followed: one C2, three B3’s and two B2’s, and details of civil service grades and pay ranges offered from April 1st 2022 can be found online at https://work-for-scotland.org/our-reward-benefits

The operation and administration of the £36 million Climate Justice Fund, is managed by the International Climate Change Policy Team, within the International Climate Change Division at the Scottish Government. The team has six full-time equivalent (FTE) members of staff at a range of civil service grades who delivering international climate policy work including overseeing and supporting the procurement and delivery of Climate Justice Fund’s contracts and grants.

The Scottish Government does not have any business need to record the proportion of time that members of staff devote to specific aspects of their duties. Consequently, the Scottish Government does not have exact administrative costs for the Climate Justice Fund. However, the grading of the six FTE team members are as followed: one C2, three B3’s and two B2’s, and details of civil service grades and pay ranges offered from April 1st 2022 can be found online at https://work-for-scotland.org/our-reward-benefits

As net zero is one of this Government's foremost priorities, addressing climate change is integrated into the work of teams right across the Scottish Government, our agencies and public bodies.

At the end of September 2022 there were 68.8 full time equivalent staff directly employed in Domestic and International Climate Change Divisions within the Scottish Government.

Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach is the first phase in how we will deliver our Vision and takes stock of how current, and forthcoming, actions across Marine Scotland and the wider Scottish Government will support the delivery of the six Blue Economy outcomes.

Ports and harbours are key Blue Economy infrastructure and Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach sets out action already underway that will support that infrastructure in progressing towards our outcomes. Action includes investment of £580 million over 5 years in vessels and ports supporting the lifeline ferry network through the Infrastructure Investment Plan; funding through Marine Fund Scotland to support projects focused on achieving an innovative and economically sustainable marine economy; and the Scottish National Investment Bank recently provided a £30 million loan to the Port of Aberdeen.

As part of our next steps, we will continue to engage with key stakeholders and our international neighbours to deliver a collaborative, inclusive approach to achieving our Vision and our joint ambitions for our shared marine space.