Chamber and committees

As for all Transport Scotland’s major infrastructure projects, consultation is an integral part of the design process for the A96 Dualling East of Huntly to Aberdeen scheme.

Transport Scotland advised a representative from Aberdeenshire Council about the forthcoming virtual exhibition and followed this up in writing on 18 December to confirm that the consultation would go live on the Transport Scotland website on 21 December 2020. In addition, a meeting with Aberdeenshire Council officers took place during the current feedback period on 03 February 2021 to present the outcome of the route options assessment and explain the next stage of the design process.

Due to the significant interest in the scheme and the amount of feedback received during the route options assessment process, it was considered appropriate to give communities visibility on the conclusion of the assessment at the earliest opportunity. This ensured communities were kept fully appraised of our plans as soon as they were available.

Recognising the impact of the festive period and the COVID-19 restrictions, we had already extended the usual feedback period by two weeks to eight weeks. However, in recognition of the widespread interest in this scheme and in light of the ongoing restrictions and feedback received, we have extended the consultation period for a further three weeks till 08 March 2021, to let the public have their say on the preferred option.

As with all Transport Scotland’s major infrastructure projects, consultation is an integral part of the design process for the A96 Dualling East of Huntly to Aberdeen scheme.

Recognising the impact of the festive period and the COVID-19 restrictions, we had already extended the usual feedback period by two weeks to eight weeks. This is a non-statutory consultation, and forms part of our rolling programme of regular engagement aimed at providing greater transparency about the decision making process associated with project route selection. Consequently there is no minimum duration required.

However, in recognition of the widespread interest in this scheme and in light of the ongoing restrictions and feedback received, we have extended the consultation period for a further three weeks till 08 March 2021, to let the public have their say on the preferred option.

As we continue to develop the preferred option in greater detail, individuals, communities and businesses affected by the work will be kept fully informed and their feedback carefully considered.

Scotland's 32 local authorities are responsible for the maintenance and safe operation of Scotland's local road network. Each local authority is responsible for all aspects of the non-trunk road network within their jurisdiction, including Winter Service Operations. This includes all footways, footpaths and cycle tracks not in private ownership. While each road authority will prioritise the treatment of their own networks, mutual aid is offered, when possible. This includes the sharing of plant, facilities, labour and salt.

Systems are already established to prioritise road clearing around hospitals and NHS Sites. In addition, Transport Scotland and their trunk road partners have reviewed vaccination sites on or adjacent to the trunk road network and considered the potential for pre-cautionary treatment routes to be flexed to assist access to these locations should mutual aid be requested.

No additional direct funding has been provided in support of winter maintenance in relation to COVID-19 although we have provided £204 million as general revenue support which local authorities could use to supplement their winter maintenance budget if they choose to do so.

The responsibility for this lies with the Rail Delivery Group, however once the app is approved it will be available for use in Scotland.

The member may wish to contact the Rail Delivery Group for further information.

Covid-19 continues to present unprecedented challenges for business across Scotland with many employers delaying and pausing recruitment decisions which will continue to have, an impact on apprenticeship provision. Skills Development Scotland will publish Modern Apprenticeship statistics under official statistics protocols with the year end statistics(Quarter 4 2020/21) in June 2021.

We acknowledge the devastating impact that restrictions have had on the taxi and private vehicle hire sector since the outset of the pandemic. We also recognise that this sector has particularly high fixed costs associated with financing and maintaining vehicles.

In addition to the £5 million COVID-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund to support the installation of equipment that reduces the risk of coronavirus transmission on public transport, including taxi and private hire operators, we have announced a £30 million discretionary fund for local authorities. This is specifically aimed at providing financial support to those small businesses and the self-employed who have not yet been reached by the Scottish Government. This includes taxi drivers as referenced by the First Minister her statement on statement to Parliament on 17 November.

We are actively considering support for fixed costs pressures on taxi drivers distinct from the new Strategic Framework Business Fund.

In addition to the £30 million discretionary funding announced on 17 November, we are actively exploring additional opportunities to support taxi and private hire vehicle operators in recognition of the devastating impact of restrictions on their trade and the high fixed costs associated with operating their vehicles. As part of this we are reviewing the financial support provided to taxi drivers by the Northern Ireland Executive to consider what lessons we can draw from this.

It should be noted, however, that there are significant variations in the taxi vehicle licensing regime in Northern Ireland compared to here, not least that licensing fees are set and administered nationally by the Executive rather than by local authorities as is the case in Scotland.

Details are as follows:

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27523 on 5 March 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-27519 on 4 March 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .