Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Our experience of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper coming into public ownership is that greater accountability to ministers results in better outcomes for passengers. Public ownership has allowed for significant benefits to passengers, such as the scrapping of peak fares.”
“GBR will also deliver passenger services that are currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport. The Scottish ministers will retain their current devolved responsibilities, including securing the provision of ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper and specifying and funding rail infrastructure in Scotland.”
“As colleagues know, I have consistently advocated for full devolution of Scotland’s railways to better integrate track and train. Unfortunately, the UK Government is not willing to pursue that change at this time.”
“I support the policy intent of the bill, in particular its ambition to maximise the benefits of greater integration while respecting devolved arrangements. The Scottish Government supports open access and freight development and the LCM is about devolved responsibilities.”
“I thank all those who have been on the journey with me: parliamentary and constituency staff; members from all parties; and, of course, the people of Scotland, with their hopes and dreams of a Scotland that is fair and just for all and is the country that they know it can be.”
“From speaking to drivers across my Lothian region, who are spending hours of their time caught up in traffic every month, I know that there is growing frustration that we have not seen work begin on that upgrade. I welcome the answer that the cabinet secretary outlined to Parliament.”
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“I begin by thanking all who contributed to the committee’s work on this inquiry, which arose from its consideration of petition PE1992, which was lodged in 2022. In my response to the committee, which was issued on 9 January, in my covering letter and again today, I welcome the committee’s consideration of the issues relevant to the future progress of the dualling programme. Much has changed since the committee began its consideration of the petition, and its report recognises that. The delivery plan for completion of the A9 dualling programme was announced in December 2023. That plan involves the procurement of four design and build contracts as well as, subject to further decisions to be made in late 2025, the procurement of two mutual investment model—MIM—contracts.”
“I am sure that, as he is doing today, Mr McMillan will continue to represent the interests of his constituents in the area.”
“Section 31 of the act provides that Scottish ministers have a right of objection to the imposition of such charges if certain criteria are met, but that right has never been used in the past 25 years. Therefore, any person who is considering making a formal objection should take independent legal advice. Given that ministers might have an adjudication role, it might not be appropriate for me to meet directly with anyone who seeks to make such a legal objection. However, I am sure that, as he is doing today, Mr McMillan will represent the interests of his constituents in the boating community. I understand that Peel Ports has committed to conducting a consultation before considering introducing any new charges, so I encourage members of the boating community to engage with that.”
“She will also be aware of the work that I have undertaken, alongside Kenneth Gibson and Clare Adamson, through the cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism, which I convene. Will the cabinet secretary confirm whether she is prepared to meet members of the boating community in order to listen to their serious concerns about the proposal? What powers does the Scottish Government have to prevent such a fee from being imposed? Fiona Hyslop: Ship, passenger and goods dues are charges that can be levied under the Harbours Act 1964. The levels at which such dues are set is, in essence, a commercial matter for the relevant port authority.”
“Although some of Scotland’s ports are publicly owned or owned by communities, most are owned by commercial entities such as Peel Ports. It is for port owners to determine how best to manage their assets and utilise their resources, within the boundaries of any statutory requirements or limitations. In relation to fees and dues, how, when and what to charge forms part of that consideration. However, I am aware that the proposal has raised a number of concerns from vessel owners across Scotland who access the Clyde estuary. I therefore wrote to Peel Ports on 18 December regarding that issue. Stuart McMillan: I thank the cabinet secretary for that helpful reply. She is very much aware of the concerns of the boating community.”
“Fiona Hyslop: I am concerned that, when 78 per cent of tickets used to be bought at ticket offices and that figure has gone down to 14 per cent, there will be circumstances—whether for reasons of maintenance or other issues for which staff want to be elsewhere—in which an office is closed when it is meant to be open. That has not helped the scores. That should and could be resolved with more certainty and reliability about when ticket offices will be open.”
“ScotRail has advised us that the opening times for ticket offices will become more reliable once the revised opening times have been agreed and all necessary arrangements to implement the changes have been put in place. Foysol Choudhury: I thank the cabinet secretary for that response. Transport Scotland stated that the low scores for ticket offices were due to the pending outcome of the station opening hours staff consultation, but the issue is long standing: ticket offices scored one out of five in almost every inspection since 2023. What action has the Scottish Government sought from ScotRail to resolve the issues? Can the ongoing consultation be considered a fair assessment of the service if it is not currently being delivered?”
“Those scores are disappointing, and I expect to see facilities provided that meet the needs of passengers. However, those scores demonstrate that SQUIRE is one of the most rigorous regimes of its kind. Many of the target levels are set at 90 per cent or higher. It audits 362 stations and 250 trains in every four-week period. That rigorous approach to inspection by the Scottish Government helps ScotRail to achieve consistently higher passenger satisfaction scores when compared with other rail operators in Great Britain, and most recently, ScotRail scored 90 per cent for overall passenger satisfaction. The failures that the member mentioned are linked to ticket offices when staff are not present to open the office when expected, and therefore, to provide access to facilities.”
“Scottish Borders Council is keen to progress the study, as am I, so I will raise with the UK Government the point that I do not think that it is fair that Scottish Borders Council has been left for such a length of time. Obviously, the council is carrying some risk, if it wants to appoint a project manager in”
“The cabinet secretary mentioned the proposed senior project manager, and I note that Scottish Borders Council has agreed to appoint one from April. Although it is prepared to fund the post from that time if it has to, I do not think that that would be fair to the council. I hope that the cabinet secretary will impress that on the UK Government. Fiona Hyslop: Indeed, I will impress that on the UK Government. It has to be recognised that the borderlands inclusive growth deal is a cross- border arrangement. It is important that the Scottish Government does not bypass the governance of that deals or others. The arrangement requires project proposals to be approved by both Governments.”
“I last raised concerns with the UK Government transport ministers in October, and I was assured that overall growth deal funding commitments in Scotland would continue, which was reflected in their budget. The Scottish Government has agreed in principle to the proposal for a project manager to oversee the business case for the extension of the Borders railway. Similar approval is still awaited from the UK Government. I have requested a meeting with the new Secretary of State for Transport and I intend to raise the matter then. Christine Grahame: As this is a pressing matter, I hope that we will shortly have from the UK Government a timeline for delivery of its half share of the £10 million for the feasibility study on the extension.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer frequently raises those concerns in her correspondence to me. I absolutely sympathise with the situation, which is not acceptable for passengers. I remember regularly being on short- formed trains prior to electrification of the Glasgow-Edinburgh line. However, the timescale will depend on fleet replacement. I will, of course, update members from Fife, and members more widely, when that occurs.”
“We want that recovery in performance to continue and I have asked for close monitoring of the Fife service in order to continue to improve capacity where possible and to end the use of short-formed trains. Murdo Fraser: As the cabinet secretary knows, I have been raising that issue for years and have been promised for years that it is going to get better, but it does not. Even in the past few weeks, two-carriage trains have pulled into Inverkeithing station already packed, with passengers standing. Those trains are therefore not able to take on any more passengers and people who are waiting to get to Edinburgh are left stranded on the platform and are late for work. That happens time and again, so can we please have a timescale for bringing the practice to an end? Fiona Hyslop: I appreciate the concerns that are being raised.”
“ScotRail has taken a number of steps to improve the service for rail passengers travelling to and from Fife. Diesel trains newly released from some of the intercity routes are now serving Fife, thereby increasing fleet resilience, and additional stops will continue to be made at Dalmeny and Burntisland to reduce pressure on the busy morning and evening Leven services. I acknowledge that there was a challenging autumn, with disruptions being significantly higher than they were in the previous year. Despite that, ScotRail achieved a strong recovery, and available seat capacity for Fife during the four weeks covering the festive period was 92.9 per cent, which was higher than the 90.3 per cent that was recorded in the same period the previous year.”
“14:30 On resuming— Portfolio Question Time Education and Skills”
“That said, we face increasing pressures across all our transport systems to ensure that they remain safe and secure, with the most substantial allocation, as members are well aware, going to rail. Of course, there is more that we would like to do, if we had full resources and full powers. This has been a constructive debate. I assure members that we are committed to investing in our transport networks and connecting our communities; indeed, that is vital to our future economic growth. I hope that, if this debate has done one thing, it has opened a chink not only for absolutely robust scrutiny of me in terms of my accountability as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, but to give us the space to elevate transport to its central role in Scotland’s economy. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. 13:25 Meeting suspended.”
“I have engaged with members by providing the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee with updates and, in December, by briefing MSPs who have a continuing interest in the issue. We have invested in and delivered on the Queensferry crossing, the M8, the M73, the M74, the A90 and the hugely important Aberdeen western peripheral route, and we have made a variety of rail investments, including at Levenmouth, Bathgate, Airdrie, Barrhead and East Kilbride. Considerable investments have been made right across the whole infrastructure, in challenging times and in a fiscal situation in which £6 billion has been taken out of our budget. We cannot ignore the challenges that we have faced. Should the Parliament pass the budget bill, we will see next year a record-breaking transport budget that breaks the £4 billion level.”
“I agree that we need to have representatives of islands who have expertise in the required areas, and CMAL and CalMac have people from island communities on their boards currently. As cabinet secretary, I have been active in encouraging that and in advertising such issues widely. As a former Government minister, Fergus Ewing will know that there are particular skills—particularly around audit and risk—that require some experience. That has been the case with some of those appointments. I am conscious that I have taken quite a few interventions. This is a big and wide debate, so I will continue. Obviously, our offshore capabilities will place more demands on our ports and harbours. On road connectivity, we know how important the A9 is.”
“Fergus Ewing: On ports and the thorny issue of the appointments to CalMac and CMAL boards, the cabinet secretary re-appointed a Danish gentleman as the head of CalMac, and two other executive directors, of whom neither is believed to have visited any CalMac ports. Having visited Stornoway once, the Danish gentleman presumably decided that it was not worth going back to. Why were local, worthy candidates rejected? They are island residents and distinguished, knowledgeable people who know about the islands. Why is the SNP Government replacing the old absentee lairds with absentee quango bosses? Fiona Hyslop: Fergus Ewing quoted Brian Wilson earlier. Mr Wilson was very selective in his reporting on CMAL and CalMac board members and their involvement in sites and how they engage with communities.”
“I have taken a keen interest in supporting and promoting that area of policy since taking on the transport portfolio. An example of our understanding of the importance of our ports to Scotland’s economy includes the recent granting of pilotage powers to the owners of the port of Ardersier. The harbour order, which was consented to last month, is an important step in a process that will put the port of Ardersier at the front of our offshore renewable sector. Those powers will support significant investment, totalling £400 million, in a remote and economically challenged part of the country.”
“The development of the case for investment is being led by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, which is supported by Glasgow City Council and Transport Scotland. On-going work includes the development of the network and consideration of funding options for the project’s delivery. I heard what members said about that during the debate. We recognise that a diverse and successful port sector contributes significantly to the national, regional and local economies in which ports operate. They are vital in delivering the outcomes of NPF4 and achieving the success of the national development sites that are identified in it. Ports and harbours are crucial gateways to Scotland, and Scottish ministers continue to support a market-driven approach to ports policy and to recognise the contributions of port operators to Scotland’s economy.”
“On Glasgow, ambitious future plans for Scotland’s transport network are set out in the second strategic transport projects review. The review’s recommendations represent a repositioning of our transport investment priorities. The focus is firmly on how transport can help us to protect our climate and improve lives while supporting the economy. As we have heard, the most transformative of the review’s recommendations involves the Clyde metro, which represents a multibillion-pound investment. When complete, that project could better connect more than 1.5 million people to employment, education and health services across the Glasgow city region. It includes integrated public transport connectivity to Glasgow airport.”
“MSPs who attended the airport industry rise coalition reception, which was hosted by Jackie Dunbar MSP yesterday evening, heard more about the role that sustainable aviation fuel can play in reducing the industry’s emissions, and they will have heard my positive comments about the role of airports in our economy. On access to Edinburgh airport, which is mentioned in the motion, the Scottish Government is aware of the plans for a second access road, which are included in the recently adopted Edinburgh city plan 2030, noting that any new road will be subject to the statutory approvals process. Edinburgh airport needs to improve sustainable access. As far as possible, passengers and staff should use existing public transport options to make their journeys to and from the airport.”
“I reassure the member that the matter is being dealt with by the finance secretary as a taxation issue, and I take a keen interest in it. It is a live and current matter and we are considering how we can use the powers that have already been devolved. Ministers are committed to reducing aviation emissions, of course, as well as to increasing our connectivity. The reserved nature of aviation means that we will continue to influence the UK Government so that Scotland can benefit fully from its jet zero strategy for aviation decarbonisation, which applies throughout the UK. We have provided funding to enable Glasgow airport to explore the feasibility of a hydrogen production, storage and distribution hub, which would help to support zero-emissions transport at that airport.”
“That said, preclearance is a commercial matter for Edinburgh airport and, ultimately, it would need to be approved by the relevant authorities in the United States. I and the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture have already discussed the importance of the issue with the incoming US consul general. Douglas Lumsden: As I mentioned in my speech, the devolution of air passenger duty could be a way of boosting economic numbers and growth and making our airports more attractive. Is the Scottish Government still considering the devolution of air passenger duty? Fiona Hyslop: Part of the agreement is to devolve APD. The issue is how we can do that in a way that does not compromise, in particular, the issues around Inverness airport.”
“We are committed to working with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help to grow Scotland’s international connectivity, particularly by developing connectivity to key international markets. That is important for tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole. Douglas Lumsden: Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Fiona Hyslop: I ask the member to let me develop my point. I want to address some of the points that Ash Regan raised, because she led the debate. We are also happy to provide non-financial support to our airports when they take initiatives that can bring clear benefits to local economies or Scotland as a whole. Ash Regan provided the good example of Edinburgh airport seeking to provide preclearance for passengers travelling to the US, which we have supported for some time and continue to support.”
“I am sure that the cabinet secretary can see that, in the context of trying to achieve regional economic balance, that approach might need to change. Will she commit today to doing something about that? Fiona Hyslop: It is really important that we support our airports and our country as a whole. There are commercial issues that mean that we have to—and should—take an airport-neutral position, but we continue to actively support Glasgow airport and its work. I hope that some positive developments can be announced at some point in the future. I have listened carefully to members’ views and noted their valuable contributions. Edinburgh airport and our other major airports in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Prestwick provide vital connectivity to many destinations, helping to deliver significant economic and social benefits.”
“I note that, in this short debate, more positive things have been said about transport by Mr Simpson, Mr Johnson and Ash Regan than we normally hear in the chamber. I encourage them to continue to support me in championing the positive role that transport can play. There will always be challenges and frustrations, but there is space in the chamber to champion transport, and its role in the economy, more widely. Pam Duncan-Glancy: I welcome the way in which the cabinet secretary is approaching the debate. She will be aware that Stuart Patrick, the chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, has said that, under the aviation strategy, despite the airport-neutral approach, every single route has gone to Edinburgh airport.”
“I, too, thank Ash Regan for bringing the debate to the chamber. It has been very wide ranging in content, so I hope that members will appreciate that I cannot address all the points that have been raised. I also note for the record that I am recused as a Government minister from commenting on matters relating to airspace expansion plans for Edinburgh airport. As Cabinet Secretary for Transport, I understand the crucial and evolving role that the transport sector plays in supporting the economy. It is estimated to support more than £9 billion of Scotland’s gross value added and around 150,000 jobs, which is about 7 per cent of the Scottish economy as a whole. Transport literally drives the economy.”
“I hope that that will give people confidence that we are investing and that we are supporting our island communities. That is in the draft budget, and I hope that the Conservatives can bring themselves to support it.”
“Does the cabinet secretary think that it is acceptable that we still have to rely on these old creaking vessels, bearing in mind the fact that the long-promised new ferries continue to be delayed? Fiona Hyslop: The fact that we have six new major vessels entering service and that seven new electric vessels are being procured demonstrates that we know that we need to provide greater resilience in the fleet with new ferries, which is what we are doing. That does not include the additional procurement that will be undertaken in the second phase of the small vessel replacement programme—SVRP 2. Those vessels are important to our islanders. We have set out an investment of £530 million in the draft budget to secure and maintain our ferry networks.”
“The ferry fleet will be strengthened with the delivery and deployment of six new major vessels from early 2025, starting with the Glen Sannox. We will also progress the procurement of seven new electric vessels and will retain a resilience vessel to cover planned and unplanned outages. Those improvements form part of the spend of more than £530 million to operate, maintain and enhance our ferry networks, as set out in the 2025-26 draft budget. Sue Webber: It has recently been revealed that more than £7 million has been spent on the MV Caledonian Isles since it went into dry dock last year, and it will not be back in service until March. The vessel is 32 years old.”
“However, as I said, the Energy Saving Trust and Glasgow City Council have done proactive work on the issue.”
“When the problem with the supplier occurred, taxi operators who had a retrofit grant offer for liquid petroleum gas conversion were given the option to change to an alternative taxi retrofit supplier. Some operators have already taken up that offer. The Energy Saving Trust wrote to all affected operators and invited any taxi operators who faced losing a deposit to contact the trust if they were unable to reclaim their deposit. However, none did so. Glasgow City Council also offered affected taxi operators further time-limited exemptions to LEZ enforcement. If there are continuing issues, notwithstanding what is already happening, I am concerned. If Pam Duncan-Glancy writes to me with illustrations of those continuing issues, we will be able to identify the best resolution and set up a meeting if necessary.”
“Pam Duncan-Glancy: Taxi drivers in Glasgow are keen to play their part in the transition to net zero, but at present they struggle to access some support to comply with the low-emission zone in the city, particularly with the liquidation of Vehicle Repowering Solutions, one of only two companies that offered retrofits under the clean vehicle retrofit accreditation scheme. I previously wrote to the cabinet secretary to raise taxi drivers’ concerns, but the issue remains. Will she meet me and representatives of the taxi industry to address their concerns? Fiona Hyslop: As the member knows from previous correspondence, we proactively dealt with those taxi drivers.”
“Comprehensive support has been provided to help the taxi trade to adapt to low- emission zones. In the Glasgow region, £3.4 million has been provided through the LEZ retrofit fund for taxi operators to upgrade their existing vehicles. More than 400 taxis have been retrofitted to the LEZ emission standard as a result. The LEZ support fund also provides a cash scrappage grant for microbusinesses. More than 700 vehicles in the Glasgow region, many of which are taxis, have been disposed of through the scheme. The switched-on taxis loan has provided more than £5.5 million in interest-free loans since 2016 to support Glasgow based hackney and private-hire operators to purchase new and used electric taxis.”