Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S7W-01158

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic and social impact of the restrictions on travel at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

In relation to the long-term solution to the landslip challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful, an economic assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, which sets the standard for good practice for assessing and designing roads and is used throughout the UK. The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 3 Assessment Report, which includes the traffic and economic assessment, can be found on the Transport Scotland website.

The traffic and economic assessment considers the traffic and economic performance of the preferred route option, including consideration of the ways the option improves the resilience, safety and operation of the route. The A83 is considered key infrastructure in supporting the wider national economy through; connecting businesses and communities, facilitating access to essential services, and supporting jobs and activities in industries such as healthcare, education, aquaculture, forestry, tourism, energy and renewables. Therefore, consideration of the wider economic benefits also forms a key part of that assessment.

Question reference: S7W-01159

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful in each of the last 10 years, also broken down by (a) consultant fees and (b) construction and maintenance costs.

Spend on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful is provided in the following table. All figures are inclusive of VAT where applicable.

Financial Year	Medium and Long Term Solutions				Maintenance (including Short Term Solution)
	Spend on Ground Investigation /Surveys	Spend on Technical Advisors	Spend on Land Compensation	Spend on Construction of MTS	Spend on Consultants (Maintenance)	Spend on Construction and Maintenance
	Spend on Ground Investigation /Surveys	Spend on Technical Advisors	Spend on Land Compensation	(Phase 1)	Spend on Consultants (Maintenance)	Spend on Construction and Maintenance
2016-17	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£4,524.40	£609,510.70
2017-18	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£55,481.75	£857,906.07
2018-19	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£23,221.41	£3,471,101.11
2019-20	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£0.00	£54,693.56	£991,671.65
2020-21	£0.00	£1,157,851.95	£0.00	£0.00	£50,124.41	£8,514,957.98
2021-22	£173,718.96	£2,804,916.38	£0.00	£0.00	£68,067.20	£7,894,399.40
2022-23	£1,293,563.63	£2,492,895.44	£4,121.69	£0.00	£46,830.30	£6,558,986.33
2023-24	£323,411.22	£7,223,408.93	£8,769.36	£0.00	£133,691.17	£3,946,052.35
2024-25	£5,084,995.35	£8,725,937.42	£17,328.88	£1,044,500.00	£137,293.22	£3,555,119.80
2025-26	£6,013,153.61	£5,274,257.11	£23,409.40	£0.00	£163,902.65	£3,541,335.34
Total	£12,888,842.77	£27,679,267.23	£53,629.33	£1,044,500.00	£737,830.07	£39,941,040.73

In terms of spend on technical advisors for the medium-term and long-term solutions, this includes costs associated with engineering design, environmental assessment (including environmental survey work), traffic and economic assessment, stakeholder engagement, and supervision of ground investigation works and phase 1 medium term solution works to the Old Military Road.

Question reference: S7W-01157

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 June 2026
Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 9 July 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to the building of a new, permanent road through the base of the Glen Croe valley as an alternative to the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, as suggested by the Rest and Be Thankful campaign group, and when a decision will be taken on whether to prioritise the building of an alternative route.

Transport Scotland carries out a rigorous assessment process to establish the preferred option for a trunk road improvement. The three stage assessment process is based on the standards of good practice set by the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and includes engagement with stakeholders.

Five route options were assessed for a permanent, long-term solution to the landslide challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful. These options included an option along the base of the Glen Croe valley as well as an option on the opposite side of the glen, on the route of an existing forestry track, as suggested by the A83 Campaign Group. The outcome of this assessment work is set out in the published DMRB Stage 2 Route Options Assessment Report.

As requested at the A83 Taskforce meeting in October, Transport Scotland has undertaken additional design and appraisal work in consultation with the A83 Rest and Be Thankful Campaign Group regarding the appraisal of two-way free flowing options for a medium-term solution and the findings from this work was presented at the last Taskforce meeting in March 2026.

I am aware of the Campaign Group’s desire to make their suggested two-way free flowing medium-term solution along the forestry track the permanent long-term solution.

I am now seeking advice from my officials at Transport Scotland on the outcome of this appraisal work and will make a decision in due course.

Question reference: S7W-01610

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 5 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-43870 by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026, what progress has been made in establishing advisory groups led by clinicians for grouped long-term conditions, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID, and whether these groups have already met and issued recommendations for consideration.

Question reference: S7W-01581

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to compile the proposed ancient woodland condition reports for the National Register of Ancient Woodland, including the frequency of updates and arrangements for publication.

Question reference: S7W-01574

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when the National Register of Ancient Woodland will be published.

Question reference: S7W-01578

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities it will provide to communities to participate in the delivery phase of the National Register of Ancient Woodland.

Question reference: S7W-01579

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what budget will be allocated to maintain the National Register of Ancient Woodland for the next and future financial years.

Question reference: S7W-01580

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how considerations of the Woodland Carbon Code, green finance initiatives and biodiversity net gain will influence the scope and delivery of the National Register for Ancient Woodland.

Question reference: S7W-01577

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to consult on the delivery of the National Register of Ancient Woodland.