Chamber and committees

These are operational matters for ScotRail as the train operating company. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly.

In addition, Office of Rail and Road publishes information on punctuality via its statistics portal, which the Member can access here.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42074 on 27 November 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government instructed ScotRail to carry out necessary recruitment to secure staff to allow ScotRail to deliver the best possible customer service to its passengers. Further to this, ScotRail’s staffing levels are currently at an all-time high.

National Records of Scotland publish a wide range of statistical data with regards to population and migration in Scotland.

Skills Development Scotland publish annual Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs), which provide detailed information on regional labour markets. The latest RSA for the South of Scotland region was published in October 2025. The data included in these publications, including Oxford Economics forecast data, is the most up-to-date available at the time of writing. Forecasts are provided by sector, occupation and for the medium and longer term up to 2035.

rsa-college-region-report-scottish-borders.pdf

rsa-college-region-report-dumfries-and-galloway.pdf

rsa-college-region-report-south-of-scotland.pdf

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) administers Scottish Apprenticeships on behalf of Scottish Government.

As part of our £85 million commitment to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, Scottish Government will invest up to £7 million in developing skills in the South of Scotland. The project will work with regional partners to respond to the identified future skills and knowledge exchange needs.

Our enterprise agencies play a key role in promoting economic and business growth and supporting capital investment in Scotland’s places and industries of the future. They also work closely with partners to resolve issues which can present a barrier to business growth, such as skills and training, transport and local housing provision, helping businesses expand, remain in their local area and employ more people. Last year (2024-25) South of Scotland Enterprise invested £12.5 million in business and community enterprises, supporting 377 full-time equivalent jobs and leveraging £23.5m of funding for the region.

The Convention of the South of Scotland (CoSS) aims to strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Borders Council and public agencies delivering in the South of Scotland to drive inclusive growth. Labour market shortages are regularly discussed, most recently at its last meeting in Spring 2025, when the focus was on Transport. Local businesses joined the previous meeting in Autumn 2024, which was chaired by the Deputy First Minister, where the agenda focussed on skills and employment issues in the region. Minutes from the meeting can be found Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: October 2024 - gov.scot

Labour market and skills shortages, and the impact that this has on businesses is something that Ministers discuss frequently, including with business directly, and has also been the focus of discussion at the NSET Delivery Board.

The Scottish Government recognises the impacts the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful have on the local community and businesses and is committed to developing a response as quickly as we are able.

The situation is being treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves, with measures to maintain connectivity on a short, medium and long term basis being implemented. Delivery of a permanent and resilient solution to the landslide risks at the Rest and Be Thankful is a priority for the Scottish Government and we continue to seek ways to achieve that as quickly as possible.

It is a sign of that ongoing commitment that Transport Scotland published draft Orders for both the long-term solution and future phases of the medium-term solution for improving the diversionary route along the Old Military Road on 13 December 2024. Transport Scotland is considering all representations received, including objections, to the published draft Orders and is working at pace to resolve these if possible. If it is not possible to resolve objections a Public Local Inquiry may be required to consider objections received and not withdrawn.

The Scottish Government is duty bound to follow the correct statutory procedures which rightly include the opportunity for local communities to input and have any objections received resolved appropriately. As with all infrastructure projects, construction of the long-term solution can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for delivery can be determined.

The Key Performance Indicators are set out in Schedule 11 of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services Grant Agreement between The Scottish Ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd. This information is available on the Transport Scotland website by following this link: Grant Agreement - Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) | Transport Scotland

The first review meeting between Transport Scotland is scheduled, but yet to take place. Following the meeting, information relating to performance will be published.

The A75 and A77 are vital components of Scotland’s strategic trunk road network, providing essential links between Cairnryan Port and the wider UK and European markets. Both routes are designed to higher standards than local roads, with features that support durability, safety, and resilience.

Skills Development Scotland publish annual Regional Skills Assessments (RSAs), which provide detailed information on regional labour markets. The latest RSA for the South of Scotland region was published in October 2025.

Through delivery of our Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, £30,000 was provided to Dumfries & Galloway Council with £30,000 in 2024-25 to undertake research into the local drivers of depopulation. The local authority has also received a total of £120,000 across 2024-25 and 2025-26 to scope and deliver locally-led depopulation interventions, including increasing local economic opportunities as a key priority.

We continue to engage closely with local authorities through the jointly chaired SG/COSLA Population Roundtable and our Population Programme Board includes representation from both COSLA and South of Scotland Enterprise, to ensure we are collaboratively addressing local depopulation trends.