 The final item of business is a member's business debate on motion 11367, in the name of Beatrice Wishart, on future island and rural transport infrastructure. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I would ask those members who would wish to speak in the debate to please press the request-to-speak buttons, and I call on Beatrice Wishart to open the debate. I thank the members who supported the motion that allowed the debate today, which is really about future-proofing transport connectivity for rural and island areas. We already know the impacts of poor transport connectivity on women, fixed income households, older and younger people, and today I am calling on the Scottish Government to listen to communities who feel that they would be better served with bridges or tunnels. You will not be surprised that today I will focus on moving away from carbon-intensive inter-island ferries, particularly in Shetland. The tunnels debate is not new. Today in Shetland it is set against the backdrop of an ageing ferry fleet with high-carbon emissions, and ferry crew recruitment and retention are difficult, all of which ever-increasingly impact the reliability of services. There is proof of concept. The short bridge between Muckel Roe and Shetland Mainland was seen as a means of reversing depopulation over a century ago. The islands of Borough and Trondha were connected by bridges in the 70s and have seen their populations grow. Trondha, from its lowest of just 17 to an eight-fold increase. It is the issues of depopulation, the economy and social links that are driving the campaigns calls for short subsea tunnels. The economies of the islands are being stifled, and that, in turn, impacts on Shetland's wider economic contribution to the national economy. Two ferries are needed to get to Unst, home of the new Saxaford spaceport, in the most northerly location of the UK. It is of national strategic importance, something that former First Minister agreed with in December 2021, saying, and I quote, a development like that would be of strategic importance, as well as being important to the local community and economy. In Yell, a local haulier transports significant quantities of fish landed at Cullibow pier and salmon from the local processing factory, but because of ferry delays out of Yell, there is a risk that they miss the onward ferry connection from Llerwick to Aberdeen and markets. Delays cost money for the haulier and for those exporting seafood. With tunnel infrastructure, it is anticipated that social and cultural links would be enhanced, including better public transport, increased tourism opportunities and improved health and public services, not least emergency services provision. There is a danger that some view discussions about inter-island fixed link connections purely through the lens of benefiting only those people living on those islands, rather than saying holistically the benefits to Shetland and ultimately to Scotland. If island communities are valued, they must be supported to reach their full potential, and there is no shortage of potential in Shetland from space, fishing, aquaculture, offshore and onshore energy in various forms. In February 2022, my MP colleague Alasdair Carmichael and I hosted an online public discussion about the possibility of short subsea tunnels in Shetland. We followed that up with our first tunnel vision event in the summer of 2022 and islands tour hosting discussions in community halls to gauge the views from each island about the opportunities and challenges of tunnel connections. Community-led grass-roots Unston Yealtown tunnel action groups, known as UTAG and YTAG, were developed. A further round of community engagement events this past summer saw the creation of a tunnel action group in Walser, home of Shetland's pelagic fleet, where yesterday one of its island ferries, the 41-year-old Henry, broke down yet again. UTAG and YTAG have been busy this last summer crowdfunding for geotechnical investigations to complement the work that has already been done on the concept of tunnels. I would. I thank Beatrice Wishart for taking intervention, but I also congratulate her on the work that she and Alasdair Carmichael have been taking forward. I think that the point that she makes about the community-led aspect of this campaign is vitally important, and certainly the message that I pick up speaking to my constituents in Orkney is very much amongst the younger population that the drive for these fixed links is coming and that in terms of retaining population in some of our island communities, this is absolutely integral going forward. Beatrice Wishart, I think that Liam McArthur makes some very good points, especially about the new generation. A recent visit to the Faroe Islands from representatives of the TAGs culminated in a report, a copy of which was sent to the transport minister. I, too, was able to visit the Faroe Islands earlier this summer. I met with the minister of fisheries and infrastructure, while Lansworth, the agency in the Faroe Islands responsible for the transport network, took me through the newest tunnel network, which was then under construction. When it opens later this month, almost 90 per cent of the Faroeese population will be connected by tunnels. I also saw the world's first subsea roundabout, it's very impressive. A recent report relating to the potential construction of a further subsea tunnel in Faroe concluded that it was significantly more environmentally sustainable than ferries. From our online meeting in February 2022, the development of TAGs and their work for geophysical surveys to Shetland Islands Council funding the development of the business case, Shetland PLC is working together to investigate whether tunnels can become a reality. That co-operation of working together extends to Shetland's engagement with the Scottish and UK Governments. Tunnels have an initial price tag, but will pay off in the long term when compared with several cycles of ferry replacements. It's not just Shetland that could benefit from fixed links. My Highlander Council colleague Angus MacDonald has also called for communities served by the Corren Vehicle Ferry to be connected with a fixed link. Earlier in the year, the ferries withdrawal for maintenance meant that those in the community faced a 42-mile road detour. Over 100 years ago, the bridge to Muckle Row was built to address depopulation. I would urge Scotland's Governments to emulate that foresight today. Investment now in sustainable transport infrastructure like tunnels or bridges would serve communities for many decades to come and would avoid replacing ferries with shorter lifespans. Vessels are often continuing in service well beyond their intended lifespan for the purposes of savings, like the 41-year-old Henry. Too often, those savings are short-term and wiped out by the eventual need to replace the asset. There are some island communities that, because of their geography, will continue to need ferries, and the replacement of those vessels must avoid the Scottish Government's west coast ferry fiasco from ever arising again or being replicated elsewhere in the country. Where communities make the case for tunnels, we should look beyond the next 20 years and invest in the future. To conclude, Presiding Officer, I agree with the sentiment that fixed links could improve communities' access to goods and services and make islands more attractive for people to live and work in and visit. A sentiment that the former Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Energy and Transport spoke of in this chamber in January 2022, is that political will and investment are crucial to ensure progress. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I want to thank and congratulate Beatrice Wishart for getting this debate to the chamber today. I know that she has a deep commitment to serve her island constituents. I am grateful to stamp for you to speak in a matter of vital importance to Scotland, particularly for rural and coastal communities such as those that I represent in Bamshire and Bucking Coast. Although I admit that we are not an island, there are threads of the same running theme when it comes to connectivity. The coastal aspect of rural living adds in an extra dimension that raises issues that must have proportional attention in Parliament. While we are here to acknowledge the significance of connectivity in Scotland's rural and island areas, I want to acknowledge the Parliament's commitment to Scotland's net zero targets, as it is essential that our actions align with those environmental aspirations. The essence of my address today is the importance of localised decision making in infrastructure projects. Our rural and coastal communities, each with unique sets of needs and challenges, must have a say in the projects that directly impact their lives. Whether it is implementing fixed links such as tunnels or enhancing other transport services, the voice of the local community is paramount. When local communities are at the forefront of those decisions, it not only ensures that the solutions are tailored to their needs but also instills a sense of ownership and commitment to the success of those projects. Safety and economic vitality are at the heart of our concerns. Connectivity is not just a matter of convenience, it is a lifeline that supports local economies, tourism and ensures the safety of our residents. In that context, I would like to highlight the exemplary work and any chance to plug the campaign for north-east rail CNER. As an ardent supporter, I have raised their work in the chamber and previously met by the former transport minister Jenny Gilruth to discuss the transformative impact of railing the north-east. The Scottish Government's allocation of funds from the Just Transition Fund for CNER's Feasibility Study marks a significant step forward. It awarded £0.25 million from the Just Transition Fund. That feasibility study has made great leats forward in the past few months, with the appointment of world-leading consultancy firms, ACOM and Stantech, to explore the possibility of passenger and freight services running north of Dice and onwards to Peterhead and Fraserborough for the first time in more than half a century. My office's recent conversation with Jordan Jack, the general secretary of CNER, highlights the campaign's focus on collaboration with local interest groups. That approach, aligning with the former transport secretary's advice, ensures that our efforts in improving transport infrastructure are inclusive and community-driven. I thank the member for taking an intervention. Would she also like to see the jewling of the A19 north of Ellyn up to places like Peterhead and Fraserborough? I think that needs to come under part of another feasibility study, but we need to start looking out of the box and looking more towards rail. If you meet with CNER, which I hope you have, and talk to them about their future plans, we are talking about getting cars off the road and decarbonising. If we look towards electric rail for the future, that would be the best investments to make. I am looking forward to the feasibility study that is due in the spring of 2024. It is eagerly anticipated. I hope that it will play a crucial role in shaping our transport landscape. The need for an integrated approach in transport involves all modes, from ferries to rail, and deeply engages with local communities that cannot be overstated. The motion before us today is not just about building tunnels or enhancing ferry services, it is about building a more connected, sustainable and inclusive Scotland, one that I know our now transport minister is dedicated to create. I thank her for our communications and outreach with local projects in my constituency, which I have raised with her. As we consider the recommendations of the STPR2, the aspirations of Shetland's grass-roots tunnel action groups and initiatives such as the campaign for north-east rail, let us remember that the heart of those projects are the people that they serve, and let us commit to a future where every decision made is a step towards a safer, more prosperous and more connected Scotland for all. I now call Sharon Dowie to be followed by Kenneth Gibson. Thank you to Beatrice Wishart for securing today's debate, which acknowledges the importance of connectivity in Scotland's rural areas. We all agree that reliable transport infrastructure is essential for local communities, economies and tourism. The member's right to mention Scotland's net zero targets, because reaching them will depend on better transport services across the country. The fact is that various aspects of Scottish life, particularly our economy, receive less attention as we move towards more rural areas. In Ayrshire, there is a pressing need for a much better transport network. Take the A77. It serves as the main artery connecting the central belt to Northern Ireland through the Port of Cairnryan. It is a vital route for businesses, college companies, commuters, farmers and also brings tourists to the beautiful south-west corner of Scotland. That is why it is unbelievable that the average speed on such an important road is just 37.7 miles per hour. The Government's own south-west Scotland transport study identified the A77 as the slowest A-road in the country. It takes an average of 69 minutes to travel a 43-mile stretch. Thank the member for taking intervention. Do you agree with me that, given that the UK Government is providing £8 million for a business plan to build up the case for Bipassons, Crociford and Springhome on the A75, that the Scottish Government step up to the mark and at least match fund the UK Government in investing in the A77? I absolutely agree with that and I think that the local communities would welcome any extra investment in their infrastructure. Because it is so slow, it is not safe and people take unnecessary risks. The number of accidents on it is unacceptable. We have been asking for years to have the A77 fully dulled, which would stop many of those dangerous incidents and save lives. I have been speaking about this road since my maiden speech. Small towns in rural areas are disadvantaged by the out-of-date infrastructure. The lack of investment limits job creation. It holds back local businesses and the local economy. What incentive is there to start your business near the slowest A-road in the country? What incentive is there for people to move to the area when it takes so long to get to your work? While we all aspire to meet net zero targets, the necessary actions are lagging behind, such as investing in our public transport services. Numerous towns in my area could benefit from having a train station such as Mochland or Cumnock, but currently there are no trains going south from Ayr following a devastating fire. It has been almost three weeks since the First Minister assured me that I would be provided with a written update on the actions that the Scottish Government has taken, along with full details of its interactions with the local authority. I am still waiting on a response. This may not be an urgent situation for the SNP Government, but it is for the people of Ayrshire. The closure of the station is having a detrimental impact on local businesses and the local economy. We need to get the trains up and running, which will have the added benefit of helping us to reach net zero. To help people to ditch their cars, we need to provide them with reliable alternative transport options. Improving rural connectivity is a matter of urgent necessity for the wellbeing of our communities and the prosperity of our local businesses. The SNP Government must make it their priority, otherwise they are letting down our rural communities and the risk-missing of our net zero targets. I too congratulate Beatrice Wishart on bringing this matter to the chamber. As a constituency MSP for Arn Cymru in Holyale, I am all too aware of the specific challenges related to island connectivity. In the context of my own Cunningham North constituency, it has been a disappointing month in relation to connectivity, with partners and the Addrossan Harbour project having further work to do after the aim of going out to tender was paused this summer as the scope of the necessary works to be completed has been expanded. There are genuine concerns locally about delays to this project due to increased costs in their fresh business case. Are an axe in Addrossanites wonder why the extents of winter and pier in the Irish berth, which ferries need in winter weather to manoeuvre up the harbour, was not initially anticipated? When a visit to Ireland on 23 August, the First Minister gave assurances that Addrossan will remain the main port for Arn once the improvements are complete. That is welcomed by people in Arn and Addrossan who previously expressed concerns that Arn ferry might move to Trun permanently. The MV Glen Sarnach is now scheduled for spring next year with a view to its commencing services in the summer to be followed soon after by the MV Glen Rosa. The motion refers to the high output of carbon emissions from ferries serving Scotland's islands, and both glens will eventually have dual fuel propulsion systems using its traditional marine diesel and liquefied natural gas, with the latter producing fewer exhaust pollutants and potentially 25 per cent less greenhouse gases. However, we must ensure that the supply chain of LNG is resilient and as environmentally friendly as possible. The recommendation of the second strategic transport projects review 2, and I quote, investigate potential fixed link connections such as tunnels along ferry routes to the sound of Harris, the sound of Barra, and between Mill and the Scottish mainland, is one that I wholeheartedly support. Having visited the ferries islands myself in 2018, I am a big fan of the ferries undersea tunnel network. The ferries used to cut passes through their mountains before building 21 undersea tunnels from the early 60s until now. That has revolutionised life and travel in the ferries islands. For example, the travel time between the capital Torshaven and Runavik has fallen from an hour and 14 minutes to just 16 minutes. Such tunnels are also of good value for money. Fully connecting communities through the ferro archipelago enabling them to thrive and grow. A planned tunnel from the southern most island of Sudoroid to the end of Sandoy of around 13 to 15 miles is estimated to cost around £390 million. When one considers a price tag of the Queensferry crossing, which was a tenth that length, are new ferries that have to be crewed and are impacted by the weather, tunnels can be cost effective. Of course, all UK procurement projects are much more expensive than elsewhere in Europe. A matter, I believe, requires investigation. Shipping is often a polluting form of transport, but subsea tunnels could also contribute to reaching our net zero goals, although not all cars using the tunnels would be electric or indeed they would also have emissions, so that's a matter that has to be assessed. While that's appropriate for the Clyde to Arran or Cumbria islands, I share the motion sentiment that subsea tunnels in Scotland should be explored for the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, where talks are reported to be an advanced stage. I was pleased that a delegation of Scottish MPs, including Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan, travelled to the ferro islands on Friday to engage with the nation that has led the world in undersea tunnelling. Of course, a Danun to Gwyrwp Tunnel could be a future possibility, which is no doubt why Ronnie was there. It's clear that our island constituents deserve transport infrastructure that is reliable and as resilient as possible. Although that hasn't always been the case, I'm hopeful that the future looks brighter with the delivery of low-emission ferries, as well as potentially fixed-link connections ushering in a new era of prosperity for our island communities. I again thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this interesting motion to the chamber. I now call Rhoda Grant to be followed by Jamie Hulker-Johnson. I want to congratulate Beatrice Wishart on securing this debate and a debate that highlights the importance of connectivity, especially in our island communities. Much has been said about the ferry fiasco in the western isles, but issues are going on in Shetland as well regarding an ageing fleet. The council owns the ferry fleet. It's ageing, it's unreliable and it needs to be renewed, but councils, because of funding commitments, are unable to do that themselves. The council has been in talks with the Scottish Government looking for assistance to renew their ferry fleet. However, every time you renew a ferry, you need to look at replacing that in the future as well. Is it better value for money to build tunnels and fix links? That's certainly an argument that has been coming from Shetland for decades, asking for tunnels and bridges instead of ferries to link their communities. It's quite sad that communities are now crowdfunding to try and make this a reality when Governments should be listening. Beatrice also spoke about the Cordon ferry and the length of time it was off this summer, creating a huge detour for communities over what is a very narrow strait to get communities to Fort William much, much quicker, and that should be considered certainly for a fixed link as well. I totally agree with that. Beatrice also talked about the benefits to communities of fixed links, and we need to look at the western aisles and how they used European funding to build bridges and causeways. Harris and Sculpey were joined together, Burner and North US, Bimbacula, South US and Erisgy, all joined together and Barra and Battersea as well. We saw as a result of that. There was an economic benefit, but there was also a social benefit because people had much easier access to services. Obviously, there are links between Erisgy and Barra and Burner and Harris that need to be looked at for the future, which are still served by ageing ferries, but it would benefit those islands to have fixed links as well. I guess more controversially is having fixed links from island groups to the mainland, and I know that people are not so keen on that because they lose the benefits of island life and we look to the sky very often and see that there has been a huge economic benefit to the sky of having a bridge. However, there are people now that see that that economy is overheating with the lack of houses for young people and the like. So we have to be careful and plan with local communities to listen to what they want and how we can fulfil their ambitions. Government must also listen to those communities and make a strategic plan that fulfills their wishes and ambitions. Everyone knows that this cannot be done overnight, but it certainly will never be done if we do not start making a plan. So I would urge Government to look at this and start our strategic plan immediately. Deputy Presiding Officer, can I congratulate Beatrice Wishart on bringing forward this motion and debate today? I apologise that she did not formally support the motion. It was merely an oversight and I would like to put on record my support for the sentiments in it because it is an important issue, not just in Shetland but in Ireland and other rural communities right across my Highlands and Islands region. Can I also apologise that I am not able to be with you in the chamber today to take part in the debate? I am having to take part remotely because my ferry yesterday was cancelled at the last minute due to technical issues, and this was the same ferry brought back into service to allow the MV Alfred to cover gaps in the Calmer fleet on the west coast. I have repeatedly warned of Orkney being impacted by the growing ferries crisis on the west coast, and I feel that this kind of proves my point. If I can start by talking briefly about Shetland during the summer, I met with those campaigning for tunnels in for their communities, but also with Shetland Island Councils a council about their efforts. I have countless approaches from local residents, businesses and other groups in Shetland making the case for fixed links. It is quite clear that tunnels or bridges should be considered when considering linking islands and other rural communities, as is the case in countries right across the world, but they have not been given enough consideration by this SNP-led Government, and while they have, as the motion states, now been included in STPR2 in the western isles, Scotland continues to focus on replacement ferries, where ferries are currently operating. That is despite there being examples of successful fixed links projects right across Scotland already. Yesterday on my abortive attempt to cross the Pentland Firth by ferry, I headed across the Churchill Barriers, which linked Orkney South Isles. They were originally built to defend scaper flow against attacks during the war, but they now provide a vital road link for the communities they connect, and there is, of course, the Skybridge, as previously mentioned, built under the Conservatives, which links Skye with the mainland of Scotland and which has transformed connectivity for that island. But it is not just about island communities that could benefit from fixed links. I have repeatedly raised the issue faced by local residents and businesses reliant on the Coronarrows ferry link, as mentioned earlier, and the damage being done to their communities with both the main ferry and the replacement boat out of action for long periods, including at peak times over the summer. The Coronarrows is a vital crossing, yet local people have suffered a year of disrupted services, which has put real pressure on their communities, and for some put into question the very sustainability of the local area for the future, some are already talking of packing up and moving elsewhere. In the Chancellor's Autumn statement, the UK Government announced that £20 million worth of funding could be made available for infrastructure improvements, and while this is welcome, it won't help with the immediate challenges being faced by local people. There are many within the local community, as highlighted by local surveying, who want a fixed link, whether that's a bridge or a tunnel, and I would support that ambition. Looking longer term, it should be part of any consideration of how to deliver a Coronarrows crossing for the future. However, in the shorter term, those local residents and businesses need a ferry service that they can rely on, and they need it now. Most in the communities that I spoke to when I was there in the summer don't care if it's an electric ferry or another diesel ferry, they just need it to run when it's supposed to. Can I ask the Transport Minister, either now or in her closing speech, if she can advise what consideration, if any, is being given by the Scottish Government in consultation with the Highland Council, who operate the route to procuring or securing a diesel replacement vessel to strengthen resilience across the Coronarrows? Deputy Presiding Officer, I could speak for longer and in more detail about some of the other areas that could be included, but this is only a very short or very welcome debate. I hope, however, that it has highlighted to the Transport Minister and to her SNP and Green colleagues just how important those links are and just how devastating the loss of those links can be to our local communities. I hope that she will accept that, although recently rejoining the Scottish Government herself, her party's record on supporting existing and delivering new lifeline links to our island and remote communities simply hasn't been anywhere near good enough. Thank you. I thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this debate on island connectivity and fixed links and framing it in the context of our climate ambitions. I'd also like to thank the Shetland grassroots tunnel action group, because without them, I don't think we would be here this evening spurring Beatrice on to bring the motion here. I'm really grateful to be able to speak in this debate on behalf of communities that I represent in the Highlands and Islands. As I was preparing for this debate, I actually remembered and people have talked this evening about how Shetland has been making a noise about fixed links for some time. I remembered a Shetland newspaper headline revealed ambitious plans for a six-line aisle-wide underground rail network with a fantastic image of the London underground imposed on the Shetland aisles. That was published on 1 April 2011. April is full, but a tremendous provocation to having these conversations about the importance of fixed links. Fixed links are transformative, and that's been already described this evening. Economically and socially, they bring benefits. Also, I think if they are part of a multimodal shift of transport, they can also bring those environmental benefits. As we've heard this evening already from Kenneth Gibson, the international store of the Faroe Islands is a tremendous one. I remember hearing about that and then seeing it with my own eyes. One of the things that really struck me was that they said that this was a democratic act, that they wanted to provide the fixed links so that everyone could have access to the capital city. I was really struck by that aspect of what they were trying to do there, but we have, as we've heard, fixed links in Scotland. Thank you very much. I think that the point is not just that people can access the city, but it allows far-flung communities in the Faroe Islands to survive and thrive. Instead of all the young people moving to the capital, Torshaven, they can stay in the communities that they grew up in and those can thrive because everyone is so close to the capital if they need to get there. I thank the member for that intervention and for bringing that balance, and that is absolutely right. We have them in Scotland, and we've seen that happen. We've heard the church hall barriers being mentioned, built in 1945, transformative. Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention who looks after those. They were built a long time ago, and that seems to be a missing link of those fixed links. We've got the sky bridge. Again, Rhoda Grant talked about the need for the balance of do we want to open up an island to that access. I think that it has brought a tremendous amount of benefit, but I would want to listen to the communities there. Smaller, but no less an impact, Erisgay Causeway, which was opened in 2001, brings a tremendous benefit to the communities. We have a duty to address rural and island population loss. Rural and island connectivity is a big part of that, and we must listen to islanders and rural communities. I thank the member for taking an intervention. When we talk about listening to rural communities, do you not think that we should listen to the rural communities who are demanding that the A9 be fully dualled? The thing about the A9 that we need to be doing is right away addressing the safety issues. I think that that is being tackled. Those are the things that we can do right now. I would also like to see much more work being done on addressing the dualling of the rail line between Inverness and Perth. As I was saying, we have a duty to rural and island communities, and they must be listened to. I think that that is reflected in the work of Transport Scotland. The second transport project review points out that the current ferry routes on the sound of Hara, sound of Barra and between Mull and the Scottish mainland face a number of issues and challenges. Replacing ferry services with fixed links, bridges, causeways and or tunnels can improve reliability, connectivity, capacity and travel times and allow for a wider reconfiguration of services. The STPR recommends that further work is undertaken on business cases to better understand the benefits, costs and challenges associated with those interventions. Of course, I would align my thoughts with Beatrice and others here around bringing the Shetland fixed links into that process, as well as, as was mentioned by Jamie Hock or Johnson, the current ferry. However, in all of this, we need to be considering the context. We are in the current cost of living crisis with impacts of inflation. I hear on both of the committees that I sit on, the rising cost of construction and the lack of skilled people often brought on by Brexit. We are also leading up to a budget process that we are going to be hearing about in a few weeks' time, so how are we going to afford these initiatives? One of the things that I wonder about is, could we invite business and industry who will certainly benefit from fixed links to participate through investment, for example those in space, energy or salmon farming sectors, to consider actually investing in our links? To conclude, Presiding Officer, we all do need to get behind fixed links, but we need to ensure that we are listening to the communities who are taking the lead and that we ensure that we get the right fixed link in the right place. I now call Douglas Ross, who will be the last speaker before I ask the minister to respond. Mr Ross. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. It's a pleasure to take part in this debate, and I congratulate Beatrice Wishart for securing this debating time. I think that we've heard a range of positive speeches from around the country, but particularly and rightly so, I think that the Highlands and Islands region, a region that I'm proud to represent, because this is an issue of critical importance to our communities. We've heard and we know about the on-going issues in the Western Isles and the failure to build ferries that were promised to those communities. Jamie Halcro Johnston has shown in his own contribution today the difficulties of living and working in our island communities. Ferries' failures, be that due to weather or maintenance and mechanical issues, have a direct impact on the daily lives of people who live and work in our island communities. I was up in Shetland earlier this year, and at my surgeries, be that in mainland Shetland or out in the islands, this issue came up time and time again. Indeed, I met with the Unst and Yell Tunnel Action Group in one of my surgeries and was very proud to support their campaign and the work they've done, and I think that they should be rightly credited in our Parliament today for everything they have done, because this is an issue that has grown in momentum. It was just last year that they, I believe, rightly criticised Transport Scotland for looking at fixed links elsewhere in Scotland, but largely ignoring their calls in Shetland. I was encouraged by the comments from the new transport minister just back in September of this year in her discussions up in Shetland that this is something that there will now be more discussion on. Anoda Grant commented on this, and I again commend the group for the current online auction that they've got going. There's 80 lots that are currently up for auction, donated by local businesses and supporters of the group, and that is commendable, and I wish them every success with it, but it's also disappointing that they have to fund raise in this way for work that I believe should be done by the Scottish Government. They are saying that fund raise will help get work on the geotechnical investigations and the socio-economic and environmental impact work. That's vital, but surely it should be done by the Scottish Government on behalf of our constituents in Shetland and in these islands. Kenny Gibson, Beatrice Wishart, Rhoda Grant and many others have spoken about this as being, yes, a big initial cost to build tunnels, but in the long run this will save taxpayers money. This will be a better method to move people between and from and to our islands, but also in the long run will, I believe, be a spend to save measure that the Scottish Government could take forward. I really think that the work being done there is something that we all need to get behind and I've been encouraged by what I've heard so far this evening. We should also look at the impact that this will have on encouraging people to move to our islands. There is a big issue getting young people, getting families to move to our islands, and there's no doubt that the unreliable service that is often received from the ferries for various reasons does put people off and with fixed links. That could really revitalise some of these communities who have so much to offer. I would hope that the work done, not just here in Parliament, but we should also recognise the work done in local council when I was up in Shetland earlier this year. The chief executive, the leader of the council, the convener of the council, the representatives on the transport committee were united in this and I hope they are encouraged by what they hear in Parliament this evening. Finally, this debate is titled connectivity in rural and island communities. For a moment, if I could just speak about rural issues, not an island community, but coming from Murray, we are a rural constituency, a rural part of Scotland, and connectivity issues are significant in Murray, in other parts of the highlands and islands, and as we've heard from Sharon Dowey and Finlay Carson, other parts of Scotland. We have a lot of debates in this place, rightly, about the A9. It would be interesting if the minister would take the opportunity tonight to say when the A9 will be fully dualled, but we've also had a commitment and promises made to fully duall the A96, which goes through Murray. And we're rightly here from Fergus Ewing calling for an IRM bypass, but what about the bypass for Elgin? What about the bypass for Keith? These are vital infrastructure upgrades that we need. It's been called for for many, many years by constituents in Murray. It's been called for by businesses in Murray. That is a connectivity that we need to open up further opportunities in Murray. It was a pledge by the SNP many, many years ago. I don't want to see them backsliding on that pledge because of the Greens in government. That was a promise they made, a promise they have to deliver, and one the people and businesses of Murray expect. Thank you, Mr Ross. I now call on Minister Fiona Hyslop to respond to the debate around the role that transport plays in connecting and sustaining all our island and rural communities across Scotland. Ms Wishart has regularly raised the potential for fixed links to play a part in future thinking and, indeed, future-proofing connectivity for the aisles that she represents. She knows that inter- aisles connectivity is the lead of Shetland Island Council, but I hope that she and other members will be pleased to note that I have met the council in recent weeks where they relayed their plans for their inter-island transport connectivity programme and look forward to seeing the outcome of their preliminary business case work on short sea crossings. We have consistently offered the assistance and advice of my officials at Transport Scotland in this process. Of course, that is connected by the drive of Unst and the Yell tunnel action groups to get the research on the table. I also had the pleasure of meeting them in this summer in Larwick. As I said at the time, I am interested in this aspect of connectivity. Much is drawn from the fairways experience, which, interestingly and importantly, is privately financed and underwritten by the state government of Denmark. With the need for reliable access for workers travelling across inter-islands, particularly in developing space and energy sectors, there is clearly a common interest with business. We have heard from members about the challenges and concerns faced by communities in different parts of Scotland. That very much reflects my own discussions and observations while visiting Shetland, Orkney, Fort William and Mull over the summer and more recently Stornoway and in the many virtual meetings that I have held with community groups from Arran, Islay and others. The Isles and Connectivity plan, due to being published, will recognise much of what has been articulated this evening. It will set out that wider understanding and recognition of future needs and strategic vision for the future, as well as setting out the long-term vessel and port plans and for consultation with our island communities to establish an agreed way forward. Supporting that are the 45 recommendations set out in the second strategic transport projects review published last December. That represents a repositioning of our transport investment priorities with a focus firmly on how transport can help us to protect our climate and improve the quality of people's lives. SME R2 recommends that we continue our significant investment in port and vessel infrastructure to improve our ferry network. There will be six new major vessels serving Scotland's network by 2026, helping to improve reliability and resilience across our networks. That will then be followed by the small vessel replacement programme that is on track and will deliver vessels between 2026 and 2028. As the motion notes, SME R2 further recommends the investigation of potential fixed links at the sound of Harris and Barra and between Mull and the Scottish mainland, which could improve communities access to goods and services, making those islands more attractive for people to visit, live and work in. The convention of the Highlands and Islands meeting that I attended last week set out that the initial community sense of desirability for fixed links now be explored. My officials and I both understand the critical need to listen to the communities in order to arrive at solutions that work for them, and that opinions on the issue differ between communities. I think that the Order of Grant made that point very well. While we explore solutions to the transport needs of our island communities, we know that the ferry networks will continue to be needed until any suitable fixed link is developed and are operational. We also recognise the challenge for local authorities that have responsibility for ferries, and the Government has provided those councils with more than £178 million in revenue since 2018 to support the running of those services. The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Orkney and Shetland Islands through the ferry task forces, the latest of which was on 23 November, when the Deputy First Minister and I met Shetland Islands Council about progressing the work of the Shetland task force. I should also point out that, on the replacement for the Coron Ferry, we are engaging with the Highland Council who are responsible for the Coron Ferry future design, allowing them to benefit from work on the small vessel replacement programme, which have implemented, may offer the additional resilience to the local ferry network that being a part of what a standard roll-off ferry design offers. However, the situation remains that decisions on the future of local ferry services, including the replacement by a fixed link, are decisions for the respect of local councils to make. The issues that we are addressing today have to also be put in the context of the fiscal environment that we are facing. We are clearly operating with an extremely challenging fiscal environment, and the Government is faced with some very stark decisions. Those were clearly set out in the Deputy First Minister's letter to the Finance and Public Administration Committee on 23 November. Those choices are even starker because we no longer have access to European funding. Independent Scotland, on the other hand, would offer greater flexibility in the funding levers that could be applied and access, once again, to EU funds. It would also offer the power and opportunity to make potentially different strategic investment decisions to the Westminster Government. In conclusion, Presiding Officer, the importance of resilience, yes indeed, Douglas Ross? I'm grateful to the Minister for Giving Way, because I think that until she moved on to independence, there was largely consensus in terms of what we're looking to achieve as a Parliament cross-party on fixed links. I wonder in her final few moments, Karen Adam, Douglas Lumson and myself all mentioned road upgrades, in particular the A9 and the A96. Can she tell us when the A9 will be fully dualled and her plans for dualling the A96? As the member will be aware, because it has been stated a number of times in this chamber, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport will make a statement about the A9 that will set out those plans. Indeed, in terms of the reference to the motion, I'm not sure that the road aspect of it was central to Beatrice Wishart's approach. I do want to reflect and respect the motion that has been put forward that has been signed by a number of members in this chamber. Minister, could you resume music for a second? Just for a sake of clarification, and obviously how members responded to what issues they raised as an entirely matter for them, I did take the trouble to reread the motion at the start, given that the number of issues that were being raised. However, I did satisfy myself that the references in the motion to the importance of reliable transport infrastructure, for example, allowed that wider focus in minister. No, Presiding Officer, I'm upset at that point. I think that I would need more than seven minutes to cover the range of all the different issues that have been raised in the debate today. That's why I've focused particularly on the points that were reflected in the opening speech by the member who laid the motion in the first place. Presiding Officer, in conclusion, the importance of resilient, reliable and affordable transport for rural and island communities needs to be addressed with intent and purpose. What that looks like and how it can best serve these communities is something that this Government continues to work on in close consultation with the communities and local action groups. Financial uncertainties, inflation and 10 per cent reductions in a capital budget are the realities that we face. Funds received through the levelling up funding fall short of the funding we in our island communities received from the European Union, which it's meant to replace. While fixed links could be a solution for some communities at some point in the future, they must be considered at the same time as the short and medium-term needs as well as that. That is the challenge in marrying those two issues. However, I can assure members that fixed links are an important consideration as we deliver future transport solutions for our island communities. Thank you, minister. That concludes the debate. I close this meeting.