Chamber and committees

The Covid-19 test kits are home PCR kits provided by NHS Test & Trace. The cost of the kits is set by the UK Government and the process managed through its contract with the travel management company, so we are unable to influence the cost of these.

Currently, we are not using private test providers for international travellers arriving into Scotland from green and amber list countries.

We are having on-going discussion with the UK government on using private test providers, particularly about the speed and reliability of the flow of data from private companies. We are keen to understand fully the key performance indicators (KPIs) that have been recently set for these companies and the process should these not be met.

Transport Scotland does not hold data on the percentage of passengers wearing face coverings while using public transport. However, ScotRail advise that the most recent observed levels indicate between an average of 80% and 90% of passengers wearing face coverings. The Confederation for Passenger Transport (CPT), who represent bus operators, advise recent observed levels indicate an average of around 80% of passengers wearing face coverings. In relation to ferries, operators have advised that they estimate that observed levels indicate around 85-95% of passengers wearing face coverings whilst using their services.

The recently observed levels do not include those who may be exempt from wearing face coverings on account of age and health conditions and so the levels of compliance with the regulations will be higher than the observed average percentages of passengers wearing face coverings.

As concluded in the South West Scotland Transport Study, a new station at Beattock was one of the interventions recommended for the next stage of appraisal. This option is one of 58 potential new stations across Scotland that are being appraised as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).

The appraisal process for STPR2 is considering the performance of all options against the transport outcomes we are seeking, the Transport Planning Objectives, which are aligned to our National Transport Strategy priorities and outcomes. The interventions will seek to contribute to our vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

Therefore, we need to consider the social and economic benefits and impacts based on performance against these objectives and the five Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance criteria, to determine the overall Value for Money. This also takes into account risks, uncertainties and other factors such as affordability, deliverability and the wider acceptability of options. This will be an important consideration given pressures on current and future public finances.

Also underpinning STPR2 is the Sustainable Investment Hierarchy where we will aim first to reduce the need to travel unsustainably, make better use of and enhance existing infrastructure, before investing in new capacity. This hierarchy is also central to Infrastructure Investment Plan. STPR2 will conclude later this year, with publication of recommendations for investment and an appropriate statutory consultation period.

Until the appraisal process is completed, it is not possible to make individual decisions on potential new stations such as Beattock.

Transport Scotland recognise the importance of tourism to the Scottish economy and the role that Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders serve within this sector as popular tourist destinations. As the current signs on the M74 are in a good state of repair no reviews are currently planned. For new tourist signs to be considered on the Scottish Trunk Road that highlight visitor attractions, applications from the tourist attraction must meet the criteria set out in Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Guidance document.

Contractual monthly payments are made by Transport Scotland to the A74(M) concessionaire Autolink. The payments are based on a shadow toll. Provisional monthly payments are made based on historic traffic numbers using the A74(M) project road. A reconciliation is undertaken at the end of each year to adjust payments for actual traffic recorded. Monthly payments are also reduced to take into any account lane occupations by Autolink. The current provisional monthly payments are approximately £2.73m before VAT.

The Scottish Government continue to work closely with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help restore connectivity.

Transport Scotland, working in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, has a well-established process in place to help Scotland’s airports recover routes lost as well as help secure new ones. Our ambition is to return to pre-Covid levels of connectivity as quickly as possible without restoring previous levels of emissions. We will remain focussed on restoring previous routes and securing new routes that are essential for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole.

We have a positive track record in helping airports secure new routes which meant that in 2019 Scotland was better connected than ever before. We do not underestimate the challenge but share the ambition of Scotland’s airports to make Scotland as well connected as peer nations and regions.

Recommendations for future transport investment will emerge from the ongoing second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) which is considering potential improvements to the trunk road network (and all other modes) across Scotland. The South West Scotland Transport Study, published in January 2020, did not recommended taking forward the option for full dualling of the A75 between the A74(M) and Dumfries and onwards to Stranraer. Instead an option for targeted road improvements on the A75 (including some partial dualling), along with 22 other recommendations, are now subject to further appraisal as part of the review.

The appraisal process for STPR2 is considering the performance of all options against transport planning objectives, which are aligned to our National Transport Strategy priorities and outcomes. We also need to consider Value for Money based on performance against these objectives and the five Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance Criteria. This will be an important consideration given the pressures on current and future public finances. The interventions will seek to contribute to our vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system helping to deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

Until the appraisal process is completed, it is not possible to make individual decisions on dualling or improving specific sections of the A75, including that between Dumfries and the A74(M) motorway. STPR2 will conclude later this year, with publication of recommendations for investment and an appropriate statutory consultation period.

Details of the £10 million grant fund scheme - announced by the Deputy First Minister on 22 June to help tenants who have been financially impacted by the pandemic and are facing homelessness - are being developed at pace and we will provide further information on the delivery and applications process for the fund in due course.

The full-time equivalent of teachers in temporary posts in each year since 2006 is shown in the following table.

Fishing associations with members who are hand-dive operators regularly attend the SSSWG. Our national Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) network is also strongly represented at the SSSWG and we continue to welcome the involvement of the hand-dive sector through this network or the fishers’ relevant association.