Chamber and committees

The procurement process for ScotRail’s replacement fleet is currently under way. The Public Contracts Scotland website sets out the vehicle procurement: View Notice - Public Contracts Scotland.

The Battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) are being procured to operate as a pooled fleet, with no specific vehicles being allocated just to the Fife routes.

Since 2023, following the launch of active travel transformation by the (then) Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants Rights, Transport Scotland has been reshaping the way active travel funding is delivered. This revised approach places Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) at the heart of delivery. Both have established relationships with community organisations and national active travel delivery partners, which they use to support local and regional priorities.

The new funding model is designed to increase the pathways through which organisations can access support, rather than restrict them. It broadens opportunities at local and regional levels rather than concentrating them nationally, meaning that more organisations have the opportunity to apply for support.

Community organisations seeking funding for active travel initiatives should engage directly with their Local Authority or RTP to explore the range of available funding streams, including those delivered through the People & Place programme.

Fair Work First is a key aspect of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work plan and it requires employers to meet a minimum standard of practice to access public sector grants.

The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with any operators of a proposed ferry service with regards to Fair Work First.

At this stage, it is not possible to confirm the precise level of cycle space provision on the new trains, as these details will be informed by manufacturers’ bids. The specification for new rolling stock will fully reflect the requirement for appropriate and accessible cycle storage.

In developing the specification, Transport Scotland and rail industry partners will balance provision for cycles alongside other essential passenger requirements, including seating capacity, toilets, wheelchair spaces, priority and family-friendly seating, door layouts and luggage storage. This balanced approach ensures that the overall configuration of new trains best meets the needs of passengers across the network.

ScotRail regularly engages representative groups, including those representing cyclists, to understand and balance customer needs.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

A robust analytical process is underway to evaluate the impact of removing ScotRail peak fares. It will take some time to be able to meaningfully analyse the impact of this £35m Scottish Government investment.

We anticipate that we will be able to share emerging findings after the policy has been in place for at least 6 months, with further reporting towards the end of the year due to how sensitive patronage and revenue are to external factors such as pricing and weather.

While an operational matter for ScotRail, the Scottish Government expects ScotRail to ensure that the services it provides meet the passenger demand.

In Scotland Under The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 all owners are legally obligated to ensure their dog’s microchip details are recorded on a compliant database, and to keep their dog’s microchip details up to date.

Any owner who has not microchipped their dog in accordance with the 2016 Regulations could face a fine of up to £500.

Under the 2016 Regulations all dogs in Scotland must be microchipped and the details recorded on a compliant database, regardless of breed. If a dog is not microchipped or that chip is registered with a non-compliant database the owner could be fined up to £500.

The Scottish Government has not made an estimate of the number of jobs that could be created by a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk. This is a commercial consideration for the prospective ferry operator and port authority.

Any new ferry service will be required to comply with UK employment laws, including the Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023. Until such time as employment law is devolved, we will continue to do whatever we can with the levers we have to promote trade union recognition and collective bargaining, at both local and sectoral levels, to achieve improved conditions and enhance effective voice.