Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has awarded grants totalling £2,235,789 from the Coronavirus Resilience and Recovery Fund for Legal Aid (CRRF). Applications from 84 firms and law centres have been approved and 1 grant is pending subject to a recalculation of award, which is now in the process of being concluded.

The total number of applicants who did not meet the criteria for funding is 195 and is broken down into the following categories:

1. The applicant’s legal aid income did not meet the criteria – 22 applications.

2. No shortfall in applicant’s income was calculated compared with casework prior to pandemic, against the criteria for funding – 124 applications.

3. Applicants demonstrated no shortfall in expected fee income, against the criteria for funding, and have been or will be paid other forms of government support in excess of this sum - 49 applications.

Scottish Ministers made a commitment to keep the CRRF under review and have worked in collaboration with the Law Society for Scotland, the Bar Associations and the Scottish Solicitors’ Bar Association on the co-design and eligibility criteria of a new fund.

An announcement by the Scottish Government was made on 4 August 2021 to launch a new £6.7 million Legal Aid Business Support and Recovery Fund, in support of the Government’s Renew, Recover and Transform Programme which aims to deliver a wide range of measures in recognition of the important role in the Justice system of vital legal aid services in Scotland as we emerge and recover from the pandemic.

The Scottish Government has had significant engagement with the Glasgow City Region partners, including Glasgow City Council (GCC) on the concept of a Glasgow Metro.

Transport Scotland are appraising case for investment in a Metro for Glasgow, through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). GCC are engaged in STPR2 through the Regional Transport Working Group for the Glasgow City Region. Transport Scotland are also committed to working with Glasgow City Council's Metro Feasibility Project and have regular routine meetings between officials. Furthermore, Scottish Government officials are part of the Metro Strategic Advisory Group. With regard to the Glasgow City Region Growth Deal Cabinet, Transport Scotland participate in the Growth Deal’s Transport & Connectivity Portfolio Group. Senior officials of Transport Scotland, Glasgow City Council and SPT meet approximately quarterly, co-chairing the Glasgow Strategic Transport Group.

In addition, Michael Matheson, in his capacity as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, met with the leader of Glasgow City Council in March 2021, to discuss the Glasgow Metro following the publication of STPR2 Phase 1 in February, which restated the case for a Metro system for Glasgow.

Scottish Government has a long standing commitment supporting local communities to become more resilient, sustainable, empowered and grow local wellbeing inclusive economies. This is delivered through a range of well-established programmes and funds that include the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, the Scottish Land Fund and sponsorship of the Community Ownership Support Service.

The First Minister announced that Kathleen Jamie is to be Scotland’s next Makar at an event at the Scottish Poetry Library on 18 August and issued a news release which sets out all the details. This is available at: New Scots Makar - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The Scottish Strategic Rail Study, published in 2003 by the Scottish Executive, was undertaken with the purpose of identifying the costs and benefits of potential improvements to passenger rail services in Central and North East Scotland and to outline the strategic priorities for the railways in these parts of the country.

The first Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR1), completed in 2008, covered all parts of the rail network in Scotland. Given the corridor, strategic node and urban network approach used for STPR1 the most relevant details related to the locations noted in the question are contained within the Glasgow urban network section of the review, with cross reference to Corridor 7 - Glasgow to Oban / Fort William and Western Isles; Corridor 15 - Glasgow to Stranraer and South West and Corridor 17 - Glasgow to Inverclyde and Islands. Full details of the appraisal are available here: Strategic Transport Projects Review .

Work on the second Strategic Transport Projects Review is currently on-going and is due to report later this year. This review has taken a regional approach to the appraisal process with the most relevant reports that cover the routes noted in the question identified below:

National Case for Change – Main Report: Initial appraisal: Case for Change - National - STPR2 (transport.gov.scot)

Glasgow City Region: Initial appraisal: Case for Change - Glasgow City Region - STPR2 (transport.gov.scot)

Ayrshire and Arran Region: Initial appraisal: Case for Change - Ayrshire and Arran - STPR2 (transport.gov.scot)

All rail based options (approximately 200) that have emerged from the sifting exercise undertaken as part of the development of the Initial Appraisal: Case for Change element of the review are now subject to more detailed appraisal. The draft recommendations from the review together with the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Statutory Impact Assessments will be published later this year.

The Scottish Government is aware of appraisal work relevant to the named corridors, that has been undertaken or ongoing by other parties:

• Scottish Planning Assessment (which informed the Route Utilisation Study), August 2006, Network Rail
• Route Utilisation Study, March 2007, Network Rail
• Scotland Route Study, 2016, Network Rail
• Westerton-Milngavie - A81 Milngavie – Bearsden Corridor Study, STAG Final Report, March 2015, East Dunbartonshire Council;
• A81 Transport Options Appraisal Study, February 2017, East Dunbartonshire Council
• Helensburgh Central – Fastline Faslane STAG Study, Hitrans (with funding from Scottish Government – Local Rail Development Fund)

As per the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance, it is the responsibility of the developer to submit a business case to Transport Scotland for consideration. This will ensure the evidenced based transport challenges are appropriately addressed for the village of Winchburgh and beyond. Transport Scotland is available to offer support and guidance on the business case process.

Current observed levels of compliance with the requirement to wear face coverings, as reported by transport operators to the Scottish government, are broadly in line with levels reported previously throughout the pandemic. However as more restrictions ease and offices begin to reopen following the move beyond Level Zero, we will start to see people using public transport for the first time since the pandemic began. Given that context, Transport Scotland and operators are reinforcing messaging on the continuing legal requirement to wear face coverings in indoor public places including public transport.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-01865 on
‎ 18 August 2021. 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

(a) Scottish Government and (b) Transport Scotland officials have (i) & (ii) not held any discussions with Professor Iain Docherty in relation to his Scotland’s Railway after the pandemic report.

Permission from the Scottish Government was not required by Abellio ScotRail to commission Professor Iain Docherty to produce the Scotland’s Railway after the pandemic report.