Chamber and committees

As carriageways are designed for a specific period (a ‘design life’) based on the predicted numbers of vehicles passing over that section over a specific number of years, increased traffic volumes (particularly commercial vehicles) can accelerate their deterioration. Traffic volumes on the A90 have risen by 6% over the last five years. This change in traffic has been factored into our most recent calculation of the Road Condition Index which is used to identify where detailed engineering investigations should be focused in order to determine maintenance requirements.

Over the last 5 full financial years there has been the following number of surface repairs on the A90 trunk road:

There are 241 laybys on the A90 trunk road (including bus stops). There are currently no plans to expand these facilities at this time.

It is for the Chief Constable, working with the working with the Scottish Police Authority, to determine how to allocate its budget to meet policing priorities including incidences involving unexploded ordnance.

You may wish to write directly to Police Scotland on this matter.

The Scottish Government works alongside the Justice of the Peace Advisory Committees (JPACs) to recruit Justices of the Peace. JPACs across all areas in Scotland advise the Scottish Government on where pressures exist, and the recruitment needs to alleviate these pressures. The Scottish Government work with JPACs to plan an outreach strategy for recruitments and process applications. It is then for each Sheriffdom’s JPAC to assess applications, carry out interviews, and recommend individuals for appointment by Scottish Ministers.

A large-scale recruitment took place in 2023-24 with the new Justices undertaking 12 to 18 months of training and due to take up post in 2025. This recruitment round included appointing 11 new Justices of the Peace to the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands – the Sheriffdom with the most rural areas. Whilst Scottish Government are involved in the recruitment of Justices of the Peace, matters such as training and retention would fall to the JPACs.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. 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

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33028 on 22 January 2025. 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

Police Scotland’s contingency plans are an operational matter for Police Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally.

Development of theft reduction strategies is a matter for Network Rail, Local Authorities ,and railway operators working in collaboration with Police Scotland and the British Transport Police.