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However, as became clear in March 2024 when the project team developed new content for their website and publicised that as part of a call-out for participants, one new and significant difference emerged which took the project into unacceptable territory.
HSTs are faster, popular with passengers, will benefit from power car upgrades and will be upgraded to provide the latest standard of comfort, accessibility and catering provision.
Questions and Answers
Date answered:
10 December 2025
The Scottish Government engages regularly with SPPA, I have met with the SPPA Chief Executive 11 times in 2025. I visited SPPA on 27 August 2025 to gain first-hand insight on the latest developments aimed at improving service delivery and progressing the remedy programme.
The figure in the Financial Memorandum for support costs (£2881 per young person per year) is based on analytical work carried out in 2011/12 and uprated to 2025/26 prices. As we set out in our response to the Financial Memorandum, this is not an appropriate way to estimate up to date costings.
The date on which responsibility for making regular support payments will transfer to the Authority has not yet been confirmed, but I expect it will take place towards the end of financial year 2025-26. I am fully committed to this work and will do what I can personally to drive forward further progress.
Just Transition In line with the Committee’s recommendations, and as featured prominently in my discussion with you during the Committee session on 26 April, our 2022 Programme for Government sets out a clear mandate to deliver a Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster.