Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 24 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of reported deteriorating pavement conditions on the number of unintentional trips and falls among people aged 65 and over, and what data it holds on the annual cost to each NHS board of treating injuries, such as hip fractures, specifically resulting from falls on poorly maintained or untreated public footways (a) in each year since 2021-22 and (b) since April 2025.
Councils have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads and footways in their area; and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic and people using their roads and footways.
Councils are entirely separate entities from the Scottish Government. Their powers are set out in statute and, it is up to each local authority to manage its own day to day business, including the maintenance of pavements. If pavements are of an unacceptable condition, complaints should be made directly to the council in question. Thereafter, if the matter remains unresolved, the complaint may be able to be referred to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
The Scottish Government does not hold data on the cost to each NHS board of treating injuries, such as hip fractures, resulting from falls on poorly maintained or untreated public footways. Individual health boards/ambulance services may hold this data but, likely only in relation to the types of injuries treated and not the reasons for them.