Chamber and committees

Decisions on the location and configuration of fire stations are a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Board and Chief Officer. SFRS conducted a full public consultation on the 23 options for change contained in its Service Delivery Review (SDR) and the responses to the consultation have been independently analysed. The SFRS Board will take decisions before the end of June 2026 on which of the Service Delivery Review options should be taken forward for implementation over the next 5 years. These decisions will be based on the SFRS evidence for change along with the responses to the consultation.

As the recruitment and deployment of police officers are matters for the Chief Constable, it for her to determine the minimum establishment number of police officers. The Chief Constable has indicated that the current establishment model is based around 16,500 police officers.

The Scottish Government is investing a record funding of over £1.7 billion in policing in 2026-27, a total increase of £81.5 million compared to the 2025-26 budget. The Chief Constable has confirmed that this allows her to maintain the establishment figure of around 16,500 police officers.

Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s performance and scrutinise Amey’s programme at weekly meetings. They undertake joint risk reviews with Amey to ensure adequate allowances are made in the programme for any risks to delivery. As a result of scrutinising the programme and risks, a Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) is produced by Amey. The QSRA provides probabilities for when the project will be completed, which aids planning and communications to the public.

Transport Scotland also utilise the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who audit, monitor and report on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the operating companies who are contracted to manage and maintain Scotland’s trunk roads. In addition, for this project, Transport Scotland have additional support from Turner and Townsend who provide expert scrutiny of the programme and project risks.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project, who regularly receive copies of the programme, and reporting on reasons for any change at regular intervals.

Finally, independent peer reviews, known as Gateway Reviews, have been undertaken at key stages of the project with the support of stakeholders and advisers. These Reviews provide additional assurance and, where required, recommend actions to ensure the project progresses successfully.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust monitoring in place in relation to the programme, reported delays and the reasons for them.

The M8 Woodside viaducts occupy a prominent position on the trunk road network and carry up to 150,000 vehicles per day.

No formal economic impact assessment was carried out in advance of lane restrictions being imposed, due to the emergency nature of the works. The likely impact on Glasgow and beyond was considered when installing propping rather than closing the viaduct as stakeholders expressed significant concern over the impact of lane closures, let alone full carriageway closures.

In July 2023, an assessment was made of the estimated costs to the economy of closing the viaducts which, at the time, was estimated to be in the region of £100m per year.

The economic impact of the works in their current form with 2 open lanes has not specifically been modelled but is likely to be significantly less that the full closure estimate.

More in depth impact assessments form part of the options appraisal process that is being undertaken to inform development of the permanent works solution.

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Transport Scotland, which is responsible for taking forward the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Works project. Work is in progress to develop the Strategic Outline Case for the project, including consideration of a range of alternative approaches, which were the subject of a public consultation earlier this year. Feedback from that consultation will be considered alongside other factors to determine the preferred approach for the project, which will balance issues such as engineering, environmental, economic, health and safety and social value considerations. Transport Scotland will discuss the emerging findings from this assessment with the Scottish Government when this work is sufficiently advanced.

In the meantime, work continues on the temporary propping to enable re-opening of all lanes of both viaducts.

The M8 Woodside Viaducts project is complex, which involves constructing temporary propping in a constrained urban environment to remove traffic loading from the deteriorated half-joints which support the motorway. Transport Scotland and their contractor, Amey, are working to ensure completion of the works as soon as possible. The removal of traffic management from the Eastbound carriageway is scheduled for Autumn 2026 with the Westbound carriageway scheduled for the second half of 2027.

I acknowledge the disruption being experienced by the travelling public and local community and appreciate the patience of road users. However, this work is essential to ensure the safe operation of this section of the M8 for the approximately 150,000 road users who travel on this section of motorway daily.

Transport Scotland have a number of measures in place to ensure adequate monitoring of the ongoing costs of the works.

Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s performance with the support of the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who ensure value for money through auditing, monitoring and reporting on the financial and NMC contract performance aspects of these works.

In addition, Turner & Townsend has specifically been engaged by Transport Scotland to provide expert project controls assistance including Cost Management services.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust cost monitoring in place.

Transport Scotland is undertaking consultation and engagement on the strategic approaches for the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Solution project through the current public exhibition process, which runs until 25 March. This consultation is open to all stakeholders, including users of the wider trunk road network such as the M74. In addition to holding two in-person public exhibitions in Glasgow on 25 February at Dundasvale Residents Hall and 4 March at Woodside Halls, a virtual exhibition room was launched on 25 February, to allow those unable to attend the in-person events to view the exhibition material and provide feedback. To maximise awareness and participation, Transport Scotland has taken a range of proactive steps to promote the consultation, including:

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Transport Scotland, which is responsible for taking forward the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Solution project. Work is in progress to develop the Strategic Outline Case for the project, including consideration of a range of alternative approaches that are currently the subject of a public consultation which runs to 25 March. Feedback from that consultation will be considered alongside other factors to determine the preferred approach for the project, which will balance issues such as engineering, environmental, economic, health and safety and social value considerations. Transport Scotland will discuss the emerging findings from this assessment with the Scottish Government when this work is sufficiently advanced.