Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has committed to funding this facility for £2 million annually until March 2026. To date, the only Scottish Government spend on this facility is the first tranche of funding for 2024-25 which was £760,000, provided to the HSCP in August. The second tranche of funding for 2024-25 is due to be provided in December.

The Transport to health Plan was published on 30 October 2024 and sets out 20 commitments on behalf of the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, and delivery bodies. The plan can be found here Transport to Health Delivery Plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Whilst electrification remains an option, no timescale has been established for the decarbonisation of the Maryhill Line.

The Scottish Government only holds personal injury accident information. It does not hold information relating to damage only accidents (i.e. not involving an injury).

There has been the following number of personal injury accidents recorded on trunk roads in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Angus Council in the last 5 years:

The findings of the WWF Living Planet Report provide further evidence, if any were needed, that the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss represent the existential threat of our times. We know we must take urgent action to address them now.

I have not met with Transport Scotland to discuss road improvements to the Toll of Birness junction specifically.

On 30 October I chaired the Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board. This meeting involved a range of operational partners, including Police Scotland and local authority representatives, to discuss measures aimed at enhancing road safety and progressing towards achieving our vision for Scotland, including the north east, to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030.

Road safety remains of paramount importance to the Scottish Government. Transport Scotland assesses the safety performance of the trunk road network on an annual basis using a robust, evidence-based approach ensuing that funding can be prioritised to those locations that support effective delivery of the Scottish Government’s 2030 casualty reduction targets.

In the current 2024-25 financial year, there has been no design or construction spend at the A90 Toll of Birness junction.

Through Transport Scotlands 2023 annual assessment of the safety performance of the trunk road network, the A90 Toll of Birness junction was not identified as a priority site for further investigation. However it was identified that there have been some collisions in recent years on the section of the A90 to the north of the Toll of Birness junction, between the A90/A952 Toll of Birness Junction and the A975 Junction at Longhaven, which warrant further investigation. Aberdeenshire Council raised concerns around the Toll of Birness junction through stakeholder engagement undertaken as part of the annual road safety assessment process and it was agreed to include the A90 Toll of Birness junction within this investigation. Transport Scotland’s Operating Company, Amey, are currently undertaking this investigation. The cost of this investigation is £10,000.

On 30 October I chaired the Road Safety Strategic Partnership Board. This meeting involved a range of operational partners, including Police Scotland and local authorities, to discuss measures aimed at enhancing road safety and progressing towards achieving our vision for Scotland, including the north east, to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030.

One of my Transport Scotland officials recently attended the Aberdeenshire Road Safety Seminar on 10 October, with Police Scotland, local authorities, elected members and key stakeholders in attendance. Road safety at a national level and issues pertaining to the local road network, with a particular focus on the A90 and A952, were discussed.

The Scottish Government has reviewed the personal injury accident information provided by Police Scotland and can confirm that there has been one personal injury accident at the Toll of Birness junction between 1 January 2024 and 30 September 2024, the date for which data is currently available. As this road traffic collision is subject to ongoing Police enquiries no further information can be provided on its cause at the present time.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30701 on 4 November 2024. 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