Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government is facing a real terms cut in our capital budget. The flat and falling funding trajectory from the UK Government has significantly impacted our ability to deliver on our capital infrastructure commitments. Based on the latest forecasts following the UK Spring Statement, our block grant for capital is now expected to reduce by 8.7% by 2027-28 – a cumulative loss of over £1.3 billion.

Development of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) delivery plan is underway, including Recommendation 14 – that bus priority interventions are implemented within Scotland’s cities and towns where congestion is highest. This takes account of the current financial climate and is examining existing schemes across all modes in addition to the 45 STPR2 recommendations.

This is a complex piece of work, with consultation ongoing across the Scottish Government, including with Statutory Bodies and Exchequer officials. This exercise will allow for the timeline for the publication to be confirmed and identify any further statutory requirements, which of course, Parliament will be informed of at the earliest opportunity. Thereafter, we will be able to advise with more certainty on the potential implementation of motorway bus lanes around Glasgow and the associated timelines.