Chamber and committees

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.

Discussions regarding rail safety are held between rail trade unions and relevant employers.

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

The Scottish Government supports Network Rail, ScotRail Trains Limited, Scottish Rail Holdings Limited, Caledonian Sleeper Limited through the funds it provides to these organisations.

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

Network Rail owns and manages rail infrastructure in Scotland, and its Scotland operations, including funding BTP to prevent theft from railways which are fully funded by the Scottish Government.

Our contractors have upgraded or replaced 227 street lights on the A90 trunk road over the last five years.

To inform funding decisions, all projects supported by Transport Scotland are required to follow our standard Business Case process, including the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). Identified options for Transport Scotland investment are assessed against national and relevant regional economic development strategies to ensure alignment. Options are also assessed against Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs) and the standard STAG criteria. The standard STAG criteria include Economy as well as Climate Change, Environment, Health, Safety and Wellbeing and Equality and Accessibility.

All major transport projects are appraised and evaluated in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) which are consistent with HM Treasury Green Book guidance. The Green Book (Section 6.1) generally discourages the calculation of macroeconomic impacts (employment and GDP) and it is generally not possible to evaluate the macroeconomic impact of specific transport projects separately from general changes in the economy.

I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-33099 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