Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government engages regularly with Transport Scotland, which is responsible for taking forward the M8 Woodside Viaducts Permanent Works project. Work is in progress to develop the Strategic Outline Case for the project, including consideration of a range of alternative approaches, which were the subject of a public consultation earlier this year. Feedback from that consultation will be considered alongside other factors to determine the preferred approach for the project, which will balance issues such as engineering, environmental, economic, health and safety and social value considerations. Transport Scotland will discuss the emerging findings from this assessment with the Scottish Government when this work is sufficiently advanced.

In the meantime, work continues on the temporary propping to enable re-opening of all lanes of both viaducts.

The M8 Woodside Viaducts project is complex, which involves constructing temporary propping in a constrained urban environment to remove traffic loading from the deteriorated half-joints which support the motorway. Transport Scotland and their contractor, Amey, are working to ensure completion of the works as soon as possible. The removal of traffic management from the Eastbound carriageway is scheduled for Autumn 2026 with the Westbound carriageway scheduled for the second half of 2027.

I acknowledge the disruption being experienced by the travelling public and local community and appreciate the patience of road users. However, this work is essential to ensure the safe operation of this section of the M8 for the approximately 150,000 road users who travel on this section of motorway daily.

A national 20 mph Task Group was established to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to the implementation of 20 mph speed limits across Scotland. The group last met on 24 January 2024 and guidance to support the rollout can be viewed at: The Implementation Guide for 20 mph Speed Limits in Scotland | Transport Scotland

Since then, matters relating to the delivery of 20 mph speed limits have been discussed on a regular basis with individual local authorities to allow us to monitor progress. 20 mph has also been discussed through existing road safety governance structures, including Local Partnership Forums.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

The Scottish Government does not hold any information on what proportion of the local road network is currently classified as requiring maintenance or repair.

The Scottish Government recognises the impacts that disruption can have on island communities. The First Minister has announced the implementation of a £10 million Islands Resilience Fund as part of the government’s first 100 days commitments, and work is underway to deliver that pledge.

Further details will be announced in due course.

The Scottish Government has taken a number of steps to promote menopause resources and support, including Menopause Cafes.

For example, Menopause Café, the charity, are promoted on the Women’s Health Platform on NHS Inform and the then Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health attended a Menopause Café in October 2025 in support of World Menopause Day.

12 local authorities have completed their rollout of 20 mph speed limits on appropriate roads with a further 4 due to complete by September. Officials are working closely with the remaining local authorities to support delivery across Scotland.

As outlined in our pledge over the first 100 Days of a new government and as set out in the Scottish Budget 2026-27, Scottish Spending Review 2026 and the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline 2026, published on 13 January, the Scottish Government is fully committed to dualling the whole A96, including a Nairn Bypass. As part of this commitment the Scottish Government is already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.

Investment in the trunk road network over the four year Capital Spending Review period to 2029-30 will allow the Scottish Government to make further progress on dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass. With the land acquired for the scheme in 2025, funding is included in the 2026-27 Budget to commence the delivery of advanced works. This will include vital archaeological investigation works and other key environmental and ecological measures, along with significant work to facilitate complex Public Utility diversions.

In parallel to the advanced works, investment through the Budget in 2026-27 will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the scheme and further develop the Business Case.

The Scottish Government’s preference would be to deliver the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) as one project. However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that the Scottish Government will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass.

Completion of the preparatory work, including approval of the Business Case, will enable a firm timetable for delivery to be set as part of the annual budget setting process, with a view to commencing procurement of the main works contract for the Nairn Bypass within this Capital Spending Review period.

The Capital Spending Review allows for the commencement of the construction of the Nairn Bypass in 2029-30, subject to business case approval and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review period. Delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme are also expected to commence during this capital spending review period.

Despite the current fiscal position and following the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, the Scottish Government will continue to progress dualling of the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass.

We have allocated funding to all territorial NHS boards in the Highlands and Islands region as part of the recurring £4.5 million investment to support the development of specialist support for people with long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other similar conditions.

While the Scottish Government is responsible for setting the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, local NHS boards exercise responsibilities in relation to the planning, commissioning and delivery of healthcare services, and take overall responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the populations they serve.

As outlined in correspondence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee on 1 October, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland and NHS Western Isles have indicated their aspiration to pool resources and collaborate to deliver elements of the support. We understand these boards are engaging with each other in order to scope options for delivery and formalise any necessary partnership agreements.

We will continue to engage with boards to support the allocation of funding and identify any further central support required.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail. The Member may wish to contact ScotRail directly for the information.

In addition, the Office for Rail and Road (ORR) publishes statistical information on station usage on its website, which can be accessed here: Estimates of station usage | ORR Data Portal.