Chamber and committees

The following table provides the A83 Rest and Be Thankful maintenance spend per year since 2007. It should be noted that The Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested because financial information prior to financial year 2013-14 has not been recorded. This is in accordance with our standard records management practice prior to the date of your request.

Amey is ultimately responsible for undertaking the viaduct propping works, acting as both Principal Designer and Contractor, under the Network Maintenance Contract (NMC) with Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland’s Project Team manage Amey’s performance and scrutinise Amey’s programme at weekly meetings. They undertake joint risk reviews with Amey to ensure adequate allowances are made in the programme for any risks to delivery. As a result of scrutinising the programme and risks, a Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) is produced by Amey. The QSRA provides probabilities for when the project will be completed, which aids planning and communications to the public.

Transport Scotland also utilise the Performance Audit Group (PAG) who audit, monitor and report on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the operating companies who are contracted to manage and maintain Scotland’s trunk roads. In addition, for this project, Transport Scotland have additional support from Turner and Townsend who provide expert scrutiny of the programme and project risks.

As you are aware, Transport Scotland has established a Project Board to provide additional governance and oversight of the project, who regularly receive copies of the programme, and reporting on reasons for any change at regular intervals.

Finally, independent peer reviews, known as Gateway Reviews, have been undertaken at key stages of the project with the support of stakeholders and advisers. These Reviews provide additional assurance and, where required, recommend actions to ensure the project progresses successfully.

I am, therefore, confident Transport Scotland have robust monitoring in place in relation to the programme, reported delays and the reasons for them.

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.

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.

Through Scotland’s Rare Disease Action Plan, we are taking forward actions to improve support for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and related conditions, including hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). This includes work to support earlier diagnosis, increase awareness among healthcare professionals, and improve coordination of care and access to services. The Rare Disease Action Plan Progress Report, published on 27 February 2026, provides an update on progress to date.

While the Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, the delivery of healthcare services is the responsibility of local NHS Health Boards, in line with national guidance and population needs.

The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities to understand their delivery plans, associated costs and implementation timelines to complete their roll out of 20 mph speed limits on appropriate roads. This collaborative process will inform a decision on the overall level of funding provided in 2026-27.

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.

(a) As noted in our 100-day commitment, we will launch a public consultation on a display ban of vapes and nicotine pouches as part of our on-going implementation of the 2026 Tobacco and Vapes Act (the Act). We also continue to work with the 4-nations on policies concerning restrictions on the packaging and device appearance of vapes using powers in the Act. Decisions on further legislative restrictions on displays, packaging and device appearance of vapes will be dependent on the outcome of consultations. As a result of the Act a free distribution and nominal pricing offence comes into force for vaping products on 29 October 2026 and from 1 June 2027 a comprehensive ban on advertising vapes will come into force.

(b) There are currently no plans to introduce regulations regarding the storage of lithium-ion batteries. However, the storage of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in a range of products, should be informed by a fire risk assessment carried out by a competent fire risk assessor. Fire risk assessments are already a legal requirement for duty holders of all relevant (non-domestic) premises.

There is currently no fully established national clinical pathway for Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) specifically commissioned by NHS Scotland.

The development and implementation of clinical pathways is led by NHS under established clinical governance arrangements and informed by clinical evidence and service needs.

Where proposals are put forward for pathway development, these are considered through established, clinically led processes by NHS and relevant national delivery partners.