In the interests of, as always, being helpful, I have truncated my script—in fact, you will be pleased to hear that I have taken a calligraphic machete to it, so it is foreshortened.
Our overarching aim is to grow the rural economy and to support wider connectivity through an integrated approach to inclusive economic growth. We will do that through a large number of measures: delivering a reformed common agricultural policy; enabling all to access superfast broadband by 2021; enabling and encouraging sustainable development, enterprise and investment in the rural economy; building on success in our world-class food and drink and forestry sectors; repopulating and empowering rural, coastal and island communities; investing in low-carbon transport; promoting active travel; providing vital transport links; delivering better journey times; reducing emissions; and providing greater quality, accessibility and affordability in public transport. Those measures are all against a backdrop of a 2 per cent, or £60 million, reduction in the £2.8 billion rural economy and connectivity portfolio budget.
I highlight three areas that the committee may be interested in. First, we will continue to support the growth of our food and drink industry through funding for the delivery of the ambition 2030 strategy.
On digital connectivity, I am delighted to reconfirm the announcement that the Scottish Government will invest £600 million to extend superfast broadband access to every home and business across Scotland by the end of 2021. I covered that yesterday, so I have eliminated the vast swathes of text in my opening remarks on that issue.
On physical connectivity, we will improve journey times and connections, cut emissions, improve quality, accessibility and affordability, and double the amount of investment in active travel to £80 million a year.
We have increased the budget for bus services and concessionary fares from £254 million to £269 million. That includes £10 million of new funding for loans to tackle bus fleet emissions, to improve air quality, to maintain the budget to support bus services, to encourage green buses and to continue our commitment to free bus travel.
We will invest in the maintenance and operation of Scotland’s trunk roads and motorways, to maintain the safety and serviceability of the network. We are committed to a large number of major infrastructure projects. Again, I have eliminated the detail in my opening remarks. Perhaps my colleague, Mr Yousaf, can touch on that if he is asked about that in questions. It is safe to say that I am very pleased that this year we will continue the design and development work in dualling the A9 and A96, and commence construction in dualling the A9 from Luncarty to Birnam.
We will continue to support ferry services on the Clyde and Hebrides, Gourock to Dunoon and northern isles routes, protect the road equivalent tariff on the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, and reduce passenger and car fares on ferry services to Orkney and Shetland.
We will continue our significant investment in railways. Again, I will spare you the detail in the interests of time.
That opening statement was well short of 4 minutes. I am happy to answer questions.