Chamber and committees

As part of the new CHFS3 contract, CalMac is introducing an increased programme of regular maintenance across the network. This is intended to improve reliability and resilience by reducing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can cause significant disruption to island connectivity.

CalMac has been working with the Raasay community, as with communities across the network, to introduce such maintenance in a way that minimises disruption.

Transport Scotland continues to invest in the A75 and A77 through ongoing maintenance and improvement works. A substantial programme of resurfacing, drainage, signage, landscaping, geotechnical and active travel improvements will continue to be delivered across both routes during 2026-27.

For example, road safety improvement works on the A75 Glasgow Road / Cuckoo Bridge Roundabout, including roundabout signalisation, footway upgrades, crossing installation, and carriageway widening in an effort to reduce collisions is due to begin in November 2026.

CalMac and NorthLink are currently able to operate within their existing budget allocation, which includes fuel. Transport Scotland has financial oversight and monitors these budgets.

Local Authority ferry services are funded via the Block Grant but at this time there has been no additional funding for fuel. The Scottish Government will continue to engage constructively with COSLA, individual local authorities and the UK Government.

The development of the Corridor Action Plans marks an important step in identifying and prioritising specific future investment projects for both routes. The plans will ensure that this is targeted to sections of both corridors where the need is greatest and that they are phased in an affordable and meaningful way. Decisions on investment need to be based on robust evidence and stakeholder support.

Depending on the procurement route taken, the current intended target date for this procurement is autumn/winter 2026-27. The timescales for completing the Corridor Action Plans will be confirmed following procurement and appointment of consultants. Further details are available at: South West Scotland Strategic Corridor Improvements | Transport Scotland

The development of the Corridor Action Plans will be funded from the existing Transport Scotland Travel Strategy and Innovation budget line. The exact level of funding required, and over what timeframe, is currently being finalised but an allowance has been made for this work.

CalMac has been and continues to work with the Raasay community to introduce such maintenance in a way that minimises disruption, including consideration of different scheduling options and possible relief vessels.

On 17 March, the Scottish Government published the guidance for Local Services Franchises on the Transport Scotland website, which is intended to provide technical support to all local authorities, including Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) in developing their franchising proposals. On 12 June 2026, the SPT Strategy and Programmes Committee approved an award of contract for services to undertake a Franchising Assessment.

We recognise that SPT is the only local transport authority in Scotland who has officially announced its intentions to pursue bus franchising, following the publication of its Regional Bus Strategy in September 2025. To support local transport authorities financially we are committed to investing £4 million in 2026-27 to support Local Transport Authorities to build business cases for local bus improvement through franchising.

The Scottish Government also provides revenue grant funding to support RTPs’ core operating costs and statutory functions, alongside contributions from constituent councils. In 2026/27, we awarded £3.468 million in revenue funding across all 7 RTPs, which included £617,025 to SPT. Decisions on the allocations of Scottish Government funding in future years is subject to the annual Budget Bill process.

We take all reports of poor water quality at bathing waters seriously. SEPA, Scottish Water and other relevant bodies continue to work together to understand the source of contamination at the bathing water at Kinghorn Harbour and identify any necessary actions to improve water quality.

Following an appeal against SEPA’s 2024 enforcement notice, the reporter determined that the notice was not valid, as it did not meet the requirements of the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. This finding was issued in February 2025.

The 2024 enforcement notice required Scottish Water to carry out investigative work. Scottish Water had already begun the scoping, resourcing and implementation of this work prior to receiving the revised enforcement notice in September 2025. In addition, SEPA continued to sample and investigate pollution sources between February 2025 and September 2025. This would suggest that the decision to overturn the enforcement notice had no material bearing on the reports of high levels of E.coli identified in the Kinghorn Harbour bathing water.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including in relation to UK seafloor integrity targets.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The lead directorate for this work, which currently sits within the portfolios of the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Agriculture, Marine, and the Islands, is Marine Directorate. The Scottish Government’s position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.