Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government’s National Rail Conversation is focussed on the publicly owned railway, therefore concerns the provision of services by ScotRail. The National Rail Conversation will engage the views of rail users, regional transport partnerships, rail unions, local authorities, equalities groups, businesses, emergency services and rail industry organisations – as well as non-rail users – for their input in to the vision for rail services in Scotland. The Conversation will listen to feedback from passengers and stakeholders and shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland.

Charter train operators such as West Coast Railways will be invited to provide input and insight as part of the wider stakeholder engagement process but are not within the scope of the Conversation itself.

The Scottish Government is committed to ending the placement of under 18s in Young Offenders Institutions (YOI) and supporting care based alternatives. We have already made significant progress, with the number of under 18s in YOI down to 4 on 28 February from over 200 in 2007. The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, introduced to Holyrood on 13 December 2022, will end this practice if it gains Parliamentary approval.

Such action is integral to Keeping the Promise, a pledge which has cross party support and to which this government remains steadfastly committed.

Beyond legislative change we are working closely with Local Authorities and the third sector to create the conditions for change. A practice guide for community alternatives has been drafted with key partners for expected publication by May 2023. The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice are supporting engagement with key partners and children and young people on the future of secure care, including defining issues, developing options for change and delivering on this, where agreed with Ministers.

We are engaging with secure care providers and local authorities to increase secure care capacity for under 18s. We are exploring funding options to provide financial sustainability for secure care providers going forward.

The Scottish Government remains committed to Keeping The Promise by 2030, working in partnership with all partners including Local Authorities, the third sector and importantly the care community to create the conditions for change at a national and local level.

We continue to support a wide range of projects and initiatives across communities in Scotland that improve outcomes for children, young people, adults and families who are care experienced and those on the edges of care.

The Scottish Government has committed £4 million per year up to March 2025 for The Promise Partnership Fund which launched in 2021. This has been established to help organisations with early intervention and to deliver changes to better support children, young people and families in or on the edges of care.

The 2023-24 budget allocated £30 million towards Keeping The Promise to children and families with care experience. In addition, £50 million has been allocated for Whole Family Wellbeing Funding. This funding will focus on the system changes required to shift investment towards early intervention and prevention activities, to ensure families can access support before they reach crisis point.

The design being taken forward on the East Kilbride Line would not prevent the route being dual tracked in future if required.

Transport Scotland, alongside industry partners, is exploring options for lengthening passing loops on the line to enable longer and more frequent freight and passenger services.

Enabling the transfer of freight traffic, particularly from the adjacent A9 to the Highland Main Line, will produce significant carbon savings and improve safety and traffic flow on the A9.

We will fund the infrastructure enhancements necessary to produce further journey time savings on the Highland Main Line once a robust business case has been established for this expenditure.

Both organisations serve different functions. Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd oversees, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, the delivery of rail services by ScotRail Trains Ltd.

Consideration of the appropriate arrangements concluded the current structure to be consistent with Scottish Government guidance on best practice for governance of such bodies.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering the grade separation of Sheriffhall roundabout, as part of its £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

Following publication of the draft Orders and Environmental Statement, Transport Scotland received a significant number of objections to the proposed scheme. Although Transport Scotland engaged widely with objectors, it was unable to resolve all objections. In view of this, a Public Local Inquiry was held from 31 January to 8 February 2023. As with all trunk road projects this is the appropriate statutory forum for considering objections received and not withdrawn. The independent Reporter is now giving detailed consideration to all evidence before making recommendations to the Scottish Ministers for a decision.

Construction of the proposed scheme can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for its progress can be set.

Glasgow City Council published the City Centre Strategic Development Framework in late 2019. Transport Scotland detailed in its response dated January 2020, that plans to improve connections across Junction 15, indeed any plans which affect the motorway through Glasgow, would require specific engagement with Transport Scotland given the potential impact on the strategic road network.

Transport Scotland regularly meets Glasgow City Council across a number of forums. However, they have not recently been approached to have any specific discussions with Glasgow City Council on the rationalisation of M8 junction 15, Townhead interchange or in regard to this District Regeneration Framework more generally. Nonetheless, my officials are preparing a response to the Townhead District Regeneration Framework public consultation.

Transport Scotland has recently been made aware of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s internal discussions relating to the possibility of using the A75 160 Annan Road Bridge for foot traffic.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has yet to decide whether to make an approach to Transport Scotland as they are conscious of difficulties relating to the provision of pedestrian access to and from the structure and the protection of foot traffic crossing the structure.

When undertaking trunk road maintenance works, Transport Scotland and its operating companies plan operations to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. Closures are avoided where possible, with works’ timings and traffic management operations designed to suit. Consultation feedback from stakeholders is considered in these plans.

Transport Scotland‘s Operating Company, BEAR Scotland, is currently planning a programme of maintenance and construction works on the Bridge. This will see replacement of the concrete deck from Autumn 2024 for approximately 6 months utilising overnight closures. This will be followed by repainting of the structure commencing in 2025 with a duration of 2 years and with occasional overnight closures.

Any bridge closures or delay as a result of the works on the structure will be carefully planned during a rigorous consultation strategy. This will reduce the effect of the works on vital services, local community and key stakeholders but also allow the vital work to the structure to be undertaken safely.

Should the bridge close due to an unplanned or emergency situation, a strategic diversion via A82 Ballachulish Bridge roundabout and A82 Tyndrum has been agreed with local councils and Police Scotland to ensure continued safe access to the region.