Chamber and committees

The main focus of the Daily Mile programme has been to embed the Daily Mile in Primary school settings and data collection has focussed on these settings. A new Daily Mile Strategy is being developed which will outline priorities over the next 3 years for expanding the Daily Mile. It will take a targeted approach, focussing on Early Years settings and areas of deprivation. Data will be collected to measure progress in embedding the Daily Mile in these settings.

Last year I announced plans to hold a National Rail Conversation with the people of Scotland to seek their views on passenger rail services provided by Scotrail and the Caledonian Sleeper. The National Rail Conversation will also engage the views of regional transport partnerships, rail unions, local authorities, equalities groups, businesses, emergency services and rail industry organisations – as well as non-rail users – for their input in to the vision for rail services in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to supporting Scotland’s railway for the future. It needs to be affordable; accessible; sustainable; offer fair and secure employment, and provide a safe environment for all who travel and work across it, now and in the future. It is also an important component of our public transport system, offering an alternative to car use, and is key to cutting transport emissions, and achieving our Net Zero ambitions.

There will be two key areas of focus for the conversation:

1. A series of stakeholder meetings, hosted by the Scottish Government, to discuss all aspects of rail passenger services. These events will take place over the next few months and stakeholders will be contacted shortly.

2. An extensive public engagement campaign aimed at giving as many people as possible the chance to have their say on the future of rail. It’s important that we hear from as many people as possible, including those who currently do not travel by rail.

Further details of both of these strands will be provided when I formally launch the National Rail Conversation in April, marking the one year anniversary of ScotRail coming in to public ownership.

When ScotRail came into public ownership the Scottish Government was clear: this would be a new beginning for our railways with a new guiding vision. My resolve remains on creating real opportunities to deliver a railway run for the benefit of its customers, staff and stakeholders. Through the National Rail Conversation, we will listen to feedback from passengers and stakeholders and shape a vision for ScotRail which best meets the needs of the people of Scotland.

As a result of the pressures that household budgets are under the Scottish Government confirmed last year that there would be no change to rail fares before March 2023. Any change to rail fares this year will be confirmed in due course but Scottish Ministers are very clear that they will not rise by an amount equivalent to the July Retail Price Index rate of 12.3 per cent.

As part of the Scottish Government’s fair fares review Transport Scotland will take forward the pilot to evaluate the removal of peak rail fares. The pilot will apply to the whole network for the six-month period, commencing in the next financial year. Work on the precise methodology, design and evaluation is ongoing with Transport Scotland officials working closely with Scottish Rail Holdings and ScotRail Trains Ltd to derive maximum benefit for this scheme.

Further details on the peak fares pilot will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

I am advised by Transport Scotland that CalMac Ferries informed West Coast Motors, who operate the bus service on Mull, of their revised timetable for the Oban-Craignure route on 29 December 2022. A revised bus timetable was implemented by West Coast Motors between 31 December 2022 and 8 January 2023 allowing ferry connections.

The Scottish Government has received representations from local residents and MSPs regarding transport options for the Corran Narrows, however, Scottish Ministers have no locus in this decision.

Transport links across the Corran Narrows is wholly the responsibility of The Highland Council and as such, any decision to replace ferries or deliver a fixed link and funding of this, would be a matter for the Local Authority.

No airports were forced to close.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessments regarding the viability of a fixed link across the Corran Narrows.

The Scottish Government is aware of work carried out by HITRANS on behalf of The Highland Council to consider a range of options for the Corran Narrows. As any decision to deliver a fixed link would be a matter for the Local Authority, it would not be for the Scottish Government to undertake an assessment of viability.

CalMac Ferries informed Transport Scotland on 16 December 2022 of risk MV Isle Mull overhaul would be delayed. This resulted in CalMac Ferries introducing an amended single vessel service on the Oban-Craignure route from 26 December 2022 to 18 January 2023.

No Ministerial direction was issued related to the freezing of ferry fares.

I am pleased to confirm that we have today published a package of announcements to provide information and financial certainty farmers and crofters need to help them prepare for the change necessary to deliver the ambitious aims set out in the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture. Links are available here:

• New payment for farmers to improve animal health and welfare launched under Preparing for Sustainable farming ;
• Route Map for agricultural reform ;
• Guidance on the list of the measures being considered and evaluated for inclusion for future agriculture support in Scotland ;
• Full 2023 Payment Strategy timetable ;
• Opening of a new round of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF) .