Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 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 .

Over the previous 10 years the Port of Cromarty Firth has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The following table below the funding approved and claimed:

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31473 on 11 September 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 .

Trust ports are independent statutory bodies, governed by their own local legislation and run by independent boards. Board composition is best served when there is expertise covering the working components of the port and where there is knowledge and consideration of local issues and impacts. It is the duty of the boards, at all times, to strike a balance that respects the interests of all stakeholders, not just one group, in the light of the objectives of the port, including commercial considerations, and what constitutes the 'common good' for all stakeholders (current and future) and the port itself.

Scottish Ministers do not have a role in the operational matters which boards take forward. The issue of whether any statutory undertaker is operating outwith its powers would be a matter for the courts. Any party which feels that a trust port is operating outside their powers as set out in the relevant legislation should raise this with the port in the first instance, but ultimately has the option to consider the potential for legal remedy.

The Scottish Government expects trust ports to follow “Modern Trust Ports for Scotland: Guidance for Good Governance” as a benchmark. The port should be considered a valuable asset, presently safeguarded by the existing board, and whose duty it is to hand it on in a similar or better position to succeeding generations. This remains the ultimate responsibility of the board, with future generations remaining the ultimate stakeholder.

The Modern Trust Ports for Scotland: Guidance for Good Governance can be found on the Transport Scotland website:

https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/modern-trust-ports-for-scotland-guidance-for-good-governance/ .

There are no specific funding avenues for local communities to access to hold trust ports to account. Trust ports should ensure on going communication with stakeholders through hosting annual meetings and consultations to enable stakeholders to offer their views. The composition of a trust board is also best served when there is expertise covering the working components of the port and where there is knowledge and consideration of local issues and impacts.

As part of their responsibilities, the Trunk Road Operating Companies are contractually required to remove all dead animals from the trunk road network. They are also required to dispose of the carcass of any non-domestic animal in accordance with the requirements of the relevant local authority.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted on the collection of roadkill.

The Scottish Government intends to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness within the £3 billion estimate already identified.

We have already invested over £320m to date including delivery of the £35m contract between Kincraig and Dalraddy, which opened to traffic in September 2017, and are making good progress on the second section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam at an estimated cost of £96m.

Design work is progressing well on the remaining sections, with the statutory process underway for eight of the remaining nine schemes. As the design and preparation of the A9 Dualling programme proceeds and the statutory procedures are completed, a more detailed estimate for each section of the programme will be finalised.

In terms of the A96, at this early stage of development it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of the cost of the dualling programme. However, it is estimated that the cost will be similar to that for dualling the A9 and be in the region of £3 billion.

As the design and preparation of both programmes proceed, a more detailed estimate for each section of the programmes will be developed.

As rates of everyday cycling increased during lockdown, we recognised that emergency temporary infrastructure measures were required to help people to continue to cycle in increasing numbers, whilst enabling them to physically distance and keep safe from traffic. That is why I announced the Spaces for People programme on 28 April for temporary active travel measures. This programme is now closed. On 17 July I answered a parliamentary question detailing the successful bidders for the funding and the amounts allocated.

To provide further support, the Scottish Government has published advice on safe walking and cycling during the pandemic, complementing similar guidance issued by our active travel delivery partners, Cycling Scotland, Cycling UK and Sustrans.

As lockdown measures begin to ease, our focus will return to the £50 million Places for Everyone programme for the continued delivery of permanent, high quality walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure, enabling more people to choose to walk and cycle for shorter everyday journeys or as part of a longer multi-modal journey with protected cycle lanes being a key feature of many schemes.

Regular engagement with visually impaired people is undertaken through the Accessible Travel Policy Steering Group. The group meets quarterly, with representation from a range of disability groups including the RNIB and Guide Dogs UK, who ensure the needs of visually impaired people are considered.

The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) provides additional advice to Ministers on the needs of disabled people in connection with transport. They hold meetings on a regular basis, including committee meetings and development days.

To ensure Spaces for People infrastructure is accessible to blind and partially-sighted people, support is provided to local authorities through our delivery partner Sustrans Scotland who are grant funded to administer the programme. If required by local authorities, they will facilitate specialist advice, such as from MACS, which has written a briefing note on Temporary Street Measures during the Coronavirus Crisis . This will help to ensure the mobility needs of disabled people are fully considered.

RNIB shared their code of conduct with Transport Scotland in May, it has since been shared with Sustrans Scotland and MACS.

Public information on the Spaces for People programme is available on the Transport Scotland website as part of the Transport Transition Plan and on the Sustrans Scotland website. This information will continue to be reviewed as we progress through the phases of the Covid-19 Route Map in conjunction with key stakeholders.

Local authorities are responsible for monitoring and reviewing public information available on individual schemes, as well as their effectiveness. Sustrans can provide support with this, and on a range of areas such as design, engagement, equality impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation.

Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the overall Spaces for People programme together with Sustrans, COSLA and SCOTS to ensure that lessons are learned for future permanent infrastructure schemes.