Chamber and committees

The breakdown of allocations to individual local authorities is set out in the following table. We are working with local authorities to collate and assure more detailed information on how their funding allocations have been spent.

The management fees due to Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper under the Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs), which were in place from April to September 2020, will be agreed in the coming weeks once a full financial reconciliation has taken place on the information provided. As soon as the fees have been confirmed they will be published on the Transport Scotland website.

The implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 has been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. However, Part 1 of the Act requires the publishing of a National Transport Strategy, and this was brought into force on 15 January 2020. Provisions around Regional Transport Partnerships and Canals are also fully in place. As I indicated at my appearance before the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee on 2 September 2020, there is limited space in this current parliamentary session to implement the other aspects of the Act.

Transport Scotland hold regular discussions with Caledonian Sleeper. Transport Scotland has also discussed the issue with RMT directly and has encouraged both parties to engage meaningfully to have the matter resolved.

The Scottish Government’s support for the aviation sector is focussed upon action led engagement in those areas where it can exert greatest influence. For example, we have been pressing the UK Government for a tailored substitute to the CJRS to help secure jobs in the short term. We have provided 100% non-domestic rates relief for aviation, airports and ground handling providers in 2020-21 - something that is not available in England or Wales. We continue to work with the UK Government and the aviation industry to explore the potential for alternatives to our border health measures which, although necessary, do have an impact on travel patterns. We have engaged directly with employers to explore whether targeted interventions could avoid job losses. We have offered support to employees who face redundancy through the PACE programme.

We are also working with airports on route recovery, to help rebuild connectivity for business and tourism and win back routes and employment opportunities.

The Scottish Government remains committed to convening structured, targeted discussions including trade unions and employers, which will focus upon maximising future employment opportunities at the appropriate and most impactful time.

Through the two budget revisions to date a total of £583m has been added to the Transport and Infrastructure and Connectivity Budget in respect of Covid-19 and other funding changes. This has been partly funded through £193m reprioritisation of existing portfolio expenditure. There have also been 33m of transfers to other portfolios.

The breakdown of all changes to the Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Budgets through the Summer and Autumn Budget Revisions is as follows:

Caledonian Sleeper advise it has engaged with ACAS and is taking its advice regarding on-going discussions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32020 on 9 October 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

The Scottish Government has regular meetings with the STUC and unions to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the transport system including the aviation sector.

I continue to welcome any specific suggestions that trade union representatives may have on additional measures that can be taken by Scottish Ministers now to support the aviation industry in its sustainable recovery.

The Scottish Government has already provided around £250 million of additional financial support which has allowed Abellio ScotRail and Serco Caledonian Sleeper to maintain full employment for their staff despite the significant drop in passenger revenue during the pandemic, and substantial additional sums will be required in future.

The UK Government has not yet provided clarity about the future additional funding for the Scottish Government arising from UK transport spending. Any pay discussions between ScotRail and its staff will need to reflect the extremely challenging budgetary position and the ongoing budgetary uncertainty.