Chamber and committees

I received initial advice from Transport received on the emerging outcomes of the Corridor Review in February 2024 followed by comprehensive advice on the outcomes from the Review’s appraisal and assessment work including full details of the magnitude of the Review’s associated reporting in July 2024.

I then received a hard copy of the full Corridor Review’s Transport Appraisal Report on 28 August 2024 which set out the outcomes of the Transport Appraisal of the Review. Following consideration of the advice from Transport Scotland officials, the reporting from the Corridor Review was published on 28 November 2024 in draft for consultation. A copy of the reports published for consultation are available from the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/our-approach/strategy/a96-corridor-review/.

Feedback from members of the public and key stakeholders will be vital in helping inform the Scottish Government’s final decision on how best to take forward improvements to the A96 whilst also balancing the demands of the challenging economic climate and the climate emergency and will inform our timescales going forward.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31455 on 4 December 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government works closely with CMAL in relation to improvements and upgrades to its ports and harbours as required. Ministers and officials meet with CMAL regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities for the sector and how these can be considered in future funding and business plans.

The Scottish Government also provides grant funding to support CMAL to adapt and modernise their ports and facilities to changing demand and to facilitate new investment. Regular maintenance of harbour facilities are the responsibility of CMAL as Harbour Authority and this aspect of work is led by them.

The Vessels and Ports Plan outlines the need for significant and sustained funding to achieve its delivery as an integral part of progress towards establishing a secure and sustainable long-term financial foundation for our ferry networks, as set out in our Strategic Approach paper.

We continue to work with CMAL and a range of other port owners including Local Authority, Trust Port, and Private operators, to invest in essential infrastructure required to maintain and enhance the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles routes. The Islands Connectivity Plan (ICP) sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term objectives and policies for ensuring necessary and sustainable transport links for our islands.

As a key element of the ICP, the Vessels and Ports Plan provides detail on the Scottish Government’s objectives for the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) and Northern Isles Ferry Services (NIFS).

The ICP consultation report and responses were published on 3 September – there was overall support for our proposals and some suggestions for improvement. We aim to use the consultation responses to inform the final versions of the Strategic Approach and the Vessels and Ports Plan.

P&O’s ferry services at Cairnryan Port are commercially operated and in a competitive environment. The Scottish Government has no locus to intervene in such situations.

However, Transport Scotland through its operating company manages and maintains the A75, A751 and A77 trunk roads which provide direct road-based access to the port.

Long term investment plans for improving access to both ports at Cairnryan are set-out in Recommendation 40 of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Peel Ports Group is a partner of the Ardrossan Harbour Project. Transport Scotland has regular engagement with Peel Ports and other partners through the project Steering Group Meetings. We have also been engaging with Peel Ports, on the Commercial and Legal Agreement aspects of the project.

Transport Scotland officials continue to work closely with all of the project partners to complete work on the business case and cost exercise review.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31450 on 4 December 2024 which also applies to trust and privately owned ports. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government works closely with all ports and harbours, and recognises the significant contribution they make to the economy of Scotland. Ministers and officials meet with ports regularly to discuss challenges and opportunities for the sector. Transport Scotland also administers the Harbour Revision Order process, to enable ports to adapt and modernise their facilities to changing demand and to facilitate new investment. However, ports are deemed to be commercial businesses, and decisions on how best to utilise their resources are the responsibility of the port authority.

Transport Scotland, CMAL and NorthLink have regular ongoing engagement with Aberdeen and other port operators regarding existing services and future plans. The introduction of new vessels involves all of the respective ports to which they operate. Each of the 3 ports on the Northern Isles routes are fully aware of the project to replace the MV Hildasay and MV Helliar with larger vessels. These new vessels will not only support the economies of Orkney and Shetland but also add resilience in terms of additional passenger capacity that can be utilised as required.

CMAL and NorthLink continue to liaise with all three port authorities. Discussions with the Port of Aberdeen, including the Pilots have already commenced and this work will continue as the project progresses. Detailed modelling work and simulations have also been undertaken.

Scottish ports are deemed to be commercial entities; therefore, it is not possible for the Scottish Government to dictate business decisions made by a harbour authority on how best to manage its harbour or utilise its resources. It is the responsibility of the Port of Aberdeen Board to determine when and where to invest in their facilities and to ensure that the Port remains in good working order.