Chamber and committees

This information is not held centrally.

The last published estimate of the cost of obesity in Scotland, by the Scottish Government , was for the Obesity Route Map in 2010. This can be found here http://www.gov.scot/resource/doc/302783/0094795.pdf . It is Appendix 2 in the document.

Subsequently SPICE published updated estimates in 2015. http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/S4/SB_15-01_Obesity_in_Scotland.pdf

We fully recognise the importance of a safe, well performing road network for the health of Scotland’s economy, and our research has shown that the trunk road network alone contributes £1.38 billion in approximate Gross Value Added to Scotland’s economy. We will continue to ensure the network is safe and fit for purpose by inspecting trunk roads at regular intervals to identify defects like potholes, which are then repaired by the Operating Companies within the strict timescales set-out in their contracts. The Transport Scotland Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) sets out how Scotland's trunk road network is maintained strategically and efficiently in order to protect our assets and ensure maximum value for money from our road maintenance activities. This can be found on the Transport Scotland website at https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/32978/j408891.pdf .

It may be helpful to clarify responsibilities for the management of roads within Scotland. Transport Scotland is responsible for the management and maintenance of the strategic trunk road network including motorways, which is delivered through our operating company contracts. The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 places the statutory responsibility for local roads improvement, maintenance and repair with local road authorities.

Our trunk road network is used daily for hundreds of thousands of journeys and is fundamental to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Scotland. It connects economic centres and remote communities while making a contribution to the wealth of the nation. In order for the trunk road network to fulfil its potential, it is vital that it is efficiently maintained. That is why despite the current financial constraints, £368.7 m was allocated for the management and maintenance of trunk roads and motorways for 2017-18 and £433 m has been allocated for 2018-19.

Road safety is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government and the Strategic Road Safety Plan sets out how Transport Scotland delivers road safety on the trunk road network. In 2016, we updated the Road Safety Plan to refocus our work on further reducing the numbers of accidents and casualties on our network. The refreshed Plan reinforces our use of a “Safe System” approach within the road transport system which is centred on the premise that death and injury is unacceptable and that they are avoidable. This refresh builds upon that approach to more clearly address risk mitigation and focus particular efforts on addressing the safety of vulnerable road users. It includes an Action Plan aligned with the five pillars of the “Safe System” approach and identifies how the work of Transport Scotland’s Strategic Road Safety Unit will contribute to the Government’s casualty reduction targets for 2020

In terms of trunk road maintenance, our operating companies have a contractual obligation to inspect the trunk road network at 7-day intervals. These inspections are primarily to identify defects that require prompt attention (Category 1 defects) because they present, or could present, an immediate hazard to road users. For road surface Category 1 defects, the operating companies are required to carry out temporary repairs by 6am the following morning and permanent repairs within 28 days.

Lesser defects and general deterioration which do not necessitate such an immediate safety-led response are then considered with findings from our annual condition assessments of the network to help determine future maintenance schemes. These include assessments of the strength of the road depth and also road surface conditions (including skid resistance). Resultant schemes may include localised patching repairs or larger maintenance schemes, which are then considered against competing priorities across the trunk road network and programmed accordingly.

Since 2009 we have also been undertaking annual surveys of a representative sample of road users to identify trunk road issues that are important to them and the levels of service they expect or desire. This allows us to gauge current levels of satisfaction and compare and trend current and past levels of satisfaction in order to identify areas for improvement.

With regard to local roads, the vast majority of funding from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipulate how local authorities should utilise their individual allocations. It is therefore the responsibility of each local authority to manage their own budget and to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities. The Scottish Government has allocated over £10.4 billion to local government for 2017-18. In 2018-19, councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion. This will provide a further real terms boost in both revenue and capital funding.

As a result of the recent adverse weather, the Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay MSP, announced on 6 April that a further £10 million would be made available to local authorities following the recent heavy snowfalls. It is my understanding that COSLA is currently engaging with local authorities to decide how the funding should be allocated.

The Scottish Government is also committed to working with local government to help improve the condition and safety of all roads, and we do this through the Road Collaboration Programme (RCP) which is jointly funded between national and local government. The RCP has liaised with local authorities and established regional groups via the Governance First project. This project continues to support groups of regional local authorities to discuss and develop a collaborative governance arrangement from which to oversee delivery of collaborative roads service activity across the partnerships.

Through this forum we are fully supportive of on-going local authority efforts to form regional partnerships to explore how their resources can be combined to best manage the condition and safety of their networks.

I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

SPS has a clear zero tolerance approach towards all violence, including sexual assault and staff are trained to recognise and respond to the precursors of violence and manage any incidents when they do occur.

A Cell Sharing Risk Assessment must be conducted before any person in SPS care is allocated to a residential setting. This assessment is used to consider an individual’s suitability to share a cell with others in order to reduce the risk of harm, including interpersonal violence.

The Cell Sharing Risk Assessment is a dynamic process. Records are continually updated in response to changes in circumstance which may impact upon the level of risk presented by an individual. Where any person is identified as presenting a risk to others, then this is recorded and will inform all subsequent management decisions. Any individual who is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Orderwill also have a dedicated management plan developed and implemented to take into account the conditions applied by the courts.

Violence Reduction meetings take place on a monthly basis across Scottish Prisons to discuss all notable incidents, trends and preventative actions.

CCTV cameras operate within all Scottish prisons to deter violent incidents and assist in any post-incident investigations. Violent incidents are always reported to Police Scotland.

Reported Road Casualties Scotland provides information on injury road accidents reported to the police. The latest statistics available are up to 2016.

The following table shows the number of injury accidents involving pedal cyclists by severity of the accident.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Grant Funding Condition 17 between Scottish Ministers and City of Edinburgh Council contains a requirement to undertake an evaluation of the Edinburgh Trams Project and I understand that this work is currently underway. Proposals for extending the tram line to Newhaven is a matter for Transport for Edinburgh and City of Edinburgh Council if they believe this is desirable and offers good value for money .

Edinburgh Trams is publicly owned by the City of Edinburgh Council. We are not aware of any analysis having being conducted on the accessibility/affordability of trams for those on low incomes. However, free travel on trams is available to those aged 60+ or with a disability and in receipt of a National Entitlement Card issued by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Scottish Government legislated in the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 to strengthen the taxi and private hire licensing regime, for example by requiring local authorities to appoint civic licensing standards officers, whose role includes supervising compliance. We expect every company and individual to operate within the existing licensing regime, and for all taxi and private hire car drivers, and vehicles, to be licensed. Anyone acting as an unlicensed driver is committing a criminal offence.

While we recognise the potential benefits to taxi and private hire car companies, and to passengers, in using new technology to access services, safety is always of paramount concern. It is clearly not acceptable for users or drivers to suffer from discrimination or violence. Any driver or passenger who believes they may have been the victim of a criminal offence should report the matter to the police, so that the incident can be investigated.