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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“We continue to work with local authorities in south-west Scotland regarding the powers around partnership working, franchising and running their own bus services. Furthermore, the new bus infrastructure fund provides local authorities with the opportunity to improve the connectivity of buses, making them more attractive to passengers. We are investing more than £1 billion in rail infrastructure and its maintenance. Examples of recent investment in the region include the £1.9 million upgrade of the Stranraer line, which involved replacing more than a kilometre of track at Laggansarroch viaduct near Girvan, and the provision of step-free access at Dumfries station.”
“I can inform the chamber that the Scottish Government took title to the land for the A96 from Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn bypass, for the purpose of starting the dualling of the A96. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general questions. Before we move to First Minister’s question time, I invite members to join me in welcoming to the gallery the Hon Maree Edwards, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Victoria. First Minister’s Question Time 12:00 United Kingdom Supreme Court Judgment 1.”
“During that time, we have witnessed around a dozen separate collisions on the A96, three of which were fatal and one that involved an ambulance. We need urgent action. Appallingly, almost £6.5 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent on both of the Scottish Government’s reviews since 2022. The failure to fully dual the A96 will be Fiona Hyslop’s lasting legacy to the people of the north- east. Can the cabinet secretary set out a timetable for when the results of the consultation will be published and when the Scottish National Party Government will finally dual the A96 in full, as promised more than a decade ago? Fiona Hyslop: The public response is important and will be published as soon as possible.”
“During a round-table meeting for MSPs that I held in the Parliament on 4 February, which the member attended, I said that it is my intention to provide an update on the public’s response to the consultation as soon as possible. I also said that it will depend on the time that is required to review the considerable number of responses that we received, and I will need to apprise Cabinet colleagues of it. The 12-week consultation period ended on 21 February. The consultation received more than 1,400 responses, which are currently being collated and analysed. Following that they will be published as soon as possible. Douglas Lumsden: That is a disappointing answer. The latest consultation on the dualling of the A96 closed more than two months ago.”
“There is a risk that making the commitments that, quite understandably, Kenny Gibson wants me to make in the here and now to speed up things would compromise negotiations and compromise best value for the public purse. He makes a key point about the regeneration that will be required around Ardrossan, regardless of what happens with the harbour and when. The harbour is central to that—I understand that. However, part of my discussions with the save Ardrossan harbour campaign, the Isle of Arran ferry committee and the task force was about the importance—once we have set out the short, medium and long-term plans for the harbour—of the regeneration of that vitally important area, which I know that Kenny Gibson is passionate about.”
“Fiona Hyslop: A tender would clearly be far preferable should the harbour come under the ownership of the Scottish Government. The works that CMAL is preparing, both in the short, medium and long term, can then be developed and published. I recognise the desire from the local community to understand when works on Ardrossan harbour will begin, what those works will be and how they will be scheduled, but such a timeline can be reasonably established and published only on the actual purchase and transfer of control of the port. I do not want to take part in anything that would compromise our commercial and confidential negotiations. It is important that the Scottish Government and the funders from our taxpayer base understand that we should get the best value from that.”
“Kenneth Gibson: Many Arran and Ardrossan constituents are understandably upset and angry at the Scottish Government’s apparent lack of urgency in concluding the discussions with regard to the harbour’s redevelopment and taking it forward. Central Ardrossan is one of Scotland’s five poorest communities, where 44 per cent of households survive on benefits. Some 165 jobs directly depend on the harbour, and they are in limbo. Meanwhile, vulnerable, elderly Arran residents have been transferred to the mainland as care workers struggle to travel to and from Ardrossan. The outline business plans for harbour redevelopment have been imminent, it seems, for years. When will they finally and definitively be published? When does the cabinet secretary envisage that a contract for the redevelopment of Ardrossan harbour will go out to tender?”
“I was also in Ardrossan, where I met campaigners who have been heavily involved in the issue, and part of my discussions with them was relaying the importance of securing the purchase. Upon the purchase of the harbour, we can provide the investments and, importantly, control the level of investment, which I am sure the member understands. I was also able to reiterate to both groups that the Scottish Government is committed to Ardrossan harbour. In our interim support for the harbour, I have also made it clear, following representations from Kenny Gibson, the constituency MP and the Isle of Arran ferry committee, that the return of the MV Caledonian Isles will see it operating out of Ardrossan. There will be a two-port solution to make sure that the Ardrossan harbour is used for as long as possible.”
“Eventually, the cabinet secretary announced nine weeks ago that the Scottish Government would explore options to buy the harbour from the private owner, Peel Ports. Since then, much to the frustration of my constituents, there has been little word from Scottish ministers on when such discussions will conclude. Again, we have heard no firm date, nor have we even heard who is undertaking the discussions on the Government’s behalf. In the interests of transparency, can the cabinet secretary say who is leading negotiations for the Scottish Government and how often it has met Peel Ports since 18 February? Fiona Hyslop: As I indicated in my original answer, CMAL is leading on commercial discussions with Peel Ports Group. I had the opportunity to talk to the Isle of Arran ferry committee last week and gave it that update.”
“As I confirmed last week on Arran to the Ardrossan harbour task force, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd is leading on commercial discussions with Peel Ports Group, and those discussions are currently on-going. Those are confidential commercial discussions and I cannot comment on the detail at this point. There is a requirement to agree heads of terms between Peel Ports Group and CMAL before any change of ownership can be confirmed. Following a fair and negotiated settlement and due diligence undertaken by CMAL on behalf of Scottish ministers, the potential transaction could be finalised by summer 2025, depending on the progress in those discussions. Kenneth Gibson: It has now been almost 10 years since the redevelopment of Ardrossan harbour was proposed, with no discernible progress since then.”
“She loved to learn about and explore new things, and she had an encyclopaedic knowledge of astronomy. For her, the world and space were big and needed to be explored. That big world is smaller with her passing, but she made it brighter by being part of it. It has been a privilege to know Christina McKelvie, and it is now a responsibility to learn from her. My thoughts are with all who loved her. [Applause.] 14:31”
“During the pandemic, I automatically thought of her and her trade union background and asked her to work with Jamie Hepburn to co-ordinate the recovery plans in preparation for reopening workplaces, working with unions and employers. I was so pleased to see the Scottish Trades Union Congress pay tribute to her this week. Of course, she wore her brightest, beaming smile when she talked with pride of her sons—her boys who have grown up to be such fine young men—and of her pride in becoming a granny recently. Anyone in the company of Keith and Christina as a couple saw the love, affection and joy that they found in each other, although I am never sure how she really felt about affectionately being called “doll” and “hen” by our dear friend Keith. Christina McKelvie had a curious mind.”
“Following that, she was a fine committee convener, navigating the European and External Relations Committee, and then the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, where she thrived and excelled. All the kind comments that were made by MSPs across the political divide last week demonstrated that, with her sheer force of personality and kindness, she must be the MSP who has impacted the most on so many in this Parliament. She used her time as a back bencher to reach out and connect with others. Her warm personality, empathy and compassion made an impact on her constituents, and she clearly relished serving her constituency.”
“Bright, breezy, with a brilliant smile bursting into a room—that was the Christina McKelvie I first met more than 20 years ago and how I remember her to this day. I was leading a training day for SNP women, and that bright spark of a woman—an active trade unionist, a feminist and a gallus, articulate woman—related how she was an organiser and an engine room election agent, but never candidate material. However, I saw that potential, and she credited—or blamed— me, along with Nicola Sturgeon, for getting her to stand in the subsequent election. I got to know her fierce passion for tackling inequalities when she was my parliamentary liaison officer for the education portfolio, shortly after she was elected.”
“Given that investment has been secured for a further three major vessels and that SVRP 2 will come on stream, it is clear that there is a firm future for the procurement of ships and vessels for our island communities.”
“Can we look forward to some good news for Ferguson’s and its workers, and to seeing more CalMac ferries being built in Port Glasgow and on the Clyde, which is a shared ambition of all of us? Fiona Hyslop: I very much appreciate the concern for us that the member expressed. Christina McKelvie was a beautiful and compassionate force of nature. I agree with the member’s thanks to the outgoing chief executive and his welcome for the new chief executive, who was also welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic when the announcement was made. The role of Government in that space is to continue to support and invest in Ferguson’s, as has been announced. As the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, my role lies in the procurement space.”
“Jamie Greene: I thank the cabinet secretary for that response, and I convey my thoughts to members of the front bench for carrying on their business as normal. I know that it must be a difficult day for the cabinet secretary and her colleagues, and I want to express that personally. I also want to convey my thanks to Ferguson Marine’s new chief executive, Graeme Thomson, and the outgoing chief executive, John Petticrew, who I know was a passionate advocate for ferry building and shipyards on the Clyde. Of course, the news about the small vessel replacement programme is disappointing, but we all have a shared ambition to see the yard flourish in the future.”
“We intend to invest more than £530 million in ferry services, vessels and infrastructure as part of the budget for 2025-26, and we are looking to complete procurement of a further three major vessels within the next year. That is in addition to the seven small vessels on which we expect Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd to move to contract award very shortly. Under the procurement rules that were set by the Conservative United Kingdom Government through the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and the Procurement Act 2023, the direct award of public contracts is possible only in strictly limited circumstances. Ministers will consider future vessel contracts from public agencies on a case- by-case basis to determine whether any might legally be open to direct award.”
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“The issue has brought to the fore some of the historical nature of the regulation that is currently in place on this area, and that is something that, as I have said, I will take away and reflect on. Other important points have been made; for example, the issue of standards and expectations has, rightly, been raised in a variety of contributions, and I will reflect on that, too. I hope that, in setting out my legal responsibilities, I have been able to indicate why I cannot give an opinion on what has been said today. However, I have certainly listened carefully to the well-considered and well-crafted points that members have made. Meeting closed at 17:51. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“Paul Sweeney: I appreciate the cabinet secretary’s points regarding the provisions of the 1964 act, but could she also allude to the need for greater regulatory oversight of ports, particularly on things such as dredging and maintaining the navigation channel? Surely such activity is integral. Should that not be a legal obligation on harbour authorities to ensure that they are held to account for such fundamental things? Fiona Hyslop: In closing, I would encourage anyone with views on the specific issue being debated tonight to engage fully with any forthcoming consultation, but I also thank members for raising wider and more general issues surrounding it.”
“We understand that a wider consultation process with all relevant stakeholders is proposed to take place in the coming months, with an outcome on the consultation expected later this year. The importance of charges to the viability of ports and harbours and the safe management of our waters, and the principle of users contributing to those costs, are well recognised, but it is also right that the levying of such dues be proportionate. Although statutory harbour authorities are independent bodies governed by their own legislation, proper consultation with users and interested stakeholders on proposals is important.”
“If the section 31 procedures were to be invoked, ministers’ role would, in effect, involve adjudication of a dispute. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me, as minister at this time, to discuss the potential substance of any dispute or to offer any view on it, the parameters of the right of objection under the 1964 act or how ministers may carry out their decision-making function. Those are matters for objectors to consider and to take a view on without any input from ministers as potential decision makers. There is no scope for the issue to be dealt with, other than by way of a transparent, impartial and even-handed consideration of an objection duly made. However, at this stage, there is no fee or charge in place, and I understand that Peel Ports is exploring all options.”
“It noted that any formal decision to implement a licence fee would be preceded by a thorough public consultation, ensuring that the perspectives of all marine users are taken into account, and it also confirmed its view that any proposed conservancy fee would, if introduced, be in compliance with its legal responsibilities as set out in its local legislation and the 1964 act. There is a potential role for Scottish ministers in the future if a fee or charge is in place and a user invokes section 31 of the 1964 act. That section provides for a right of objection to Scottish ministers against the imposition of “ship, passenger and goods dues”. The Scottish Government will process any objections lodged under that section, and any person considering making such a formal challenge should take independent legal advice.”
“Is there no leverage in that respect that the Scottish Government can potentially use? Fiona Hyslop: The role played by that area of Government is limited and tends to apply to the marine sector and marine operations. Due to the importance of the issue that we are discussing tonight to a wide range of small vessel owners, I wrote to Peel Ports to highlight stakeholders’ strength of feeling, and it confirmed that it is in the preliminary data collection phase of a community consultation process to assess the possible introduction of an annual conservancy fee for leisure vessels on the Clyde. We have been advised that no decision has been made on how to proceed at this point in time.”
“Harbour authorities are independent, self-governing bodies that are responsible for the safety and efficiency of marine operations within their jurisdiction, and their duties include managing ports and harbours for safe navigation, protecting the environment and ensuring overall operational efficiency. Therefore, the Scottish Government has no say in the day-to- day running of their business, nor can it dictate business decisions on how to best utilise their resources. Ports are held to account by their own legislation rather than by the Scottish or UK Government. Brian Whittle: I appreciate what the cabinet secretary says about these being private companies in which the Scottish Government cannot intervene, but does the Scottish Government not give grants to some ports to help with their development, the docking of ships and so on?”
“There will be challenges as a result of competing and changing demands, and ensuring that our waters remain safe for those at sea and that they are maintained and protected for future generations is crucial. The port sector comprises a combination of ownership models, but the overarching principles of how a port can operate remain the same, regardless of whether a port authority is privately owned, in trust or operated by a local authority. Scottish ministers have no legal powers to instruct the decisions that a port makes, and that is legally enshrined in the Harbours Act 1964 and the local harbour order legislation that each port operates under, as Stuart McMillan and others have acknowledged.”
“I thank Stuart McMillan for his work in highlighting a number of issues of importance to the maritime sector, both in Parliament tonight and through his role as convener of the cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism. I found members’ contributions on the issue to be thought provoking and considered, and I will reflect on them. MSPs have highlighted the strength of feelings on a subject that is important to Scotland as a seafaring nation. Scotland’s waters are vast and unique, and the use of our seas for the movement of people and goods, fishing and recreation and to facilitate the increasing offshore energy demand shows that the issue will remain of huge importance in years to come.”
“Every individual’s situation is different, but the trauma that people perceive and have experienced has to be recognised.”
“Some victims are now saying that they received an email with the transcript without any notice that it was coming, after many months of waiting. Has the Scottish Government given consideration to improving personalised communication, particularly in cases with not guilty verdicts? A number of women are now raising that as a concern. Fiona Hyslop: How the information is received clearly is an issue. That is why planning in advance is important. Of course, that can be done only on an individual basis. Some people have requested that they be emailed and some people have requested information in other forms. Paying attention to such requests, particularly the aspect of communications, is really important. I will ask the cabinet secretary to address the issue of receiving transcripts in cases with not guilty verdicts.”
“Is the Government doing any work with victim support organisations to mitigate retraumatisation risks? Fiona Hyslop: Clearly, all of that work must be trauma informed. It is essential that feedback from applicants forms part of any evaluation and that it includes the perspectives of organisations such as Rape Crisis Scotland. We regularly review the content of the application forms to address known and emerging challenges. Importantly, there need to be offers of support at the time of receipt of the information, because, as the member has indicated, how it is received can cause further concerns. How it is received is agreed in advance with the requesters. Katy Clark: I am pleased that the cabinet secretary has raised the issue of how information is received.”
“We will continue to work with the court service to ensure that any operational challenges are overcome. That includes an on-going evaluation process, which will rightly reflect the feedback from applicants. Ms Clark will also be aware that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs committed to working with members of the Scottish Parliament to consider an amendment at stage 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill to create a statutory right to transcripts. Katy Clark: Over the weekend, three women who were raped by a controlling abuser described the scheme as “shoddy” and “insensitive”. I hope that the Scottish Government will consider a review. Will any evaluation or review that is done include feedback from survivors?”
“As I intimated to you, Presiding Officer, and to the member, I am answering this question because both the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety are unavoidably engaged on important Scottish Government business elsewhere. The Scottish Government recognises that considerable delays in people receiving transcripts will cause distress, and we apologise for that. It is not good enough, and we are working closely with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to address the issue. The pilot was extended for a further year, so that lessons can be learned on delivery and on communication with requesters, which also needs to be addressed. The pilot has proved to be successful in that more than 87 applications were received from March 2024 to February 2025.”
“Rona Mackay: It is highly encouraging to witness the expansion to companions and the Government’s dedication to enhancing accessibility in Scotland’s public transportation system. Can the minister confirm when she will next meet Transport Scotland and ScotRail to discuss those plans and any next steps? Fiona Hyslop: I meet my officials at Transport Scotland and ScotRail regularly, and they will be monitoring the impacts of the initiative and keeping me informed of progress over the next 12 months. We all want it to succeed in making travel more affordable and accessible to blind and visually impaired people. I hope that MSPs across the chamber will help promote it locally, too.”
“One of our aims for a publicly owned ScotRail is to make rail travel more accessible to more people. Following representations from Sight Scotland, Deafblind Scotland and MSPs from different parties, I am pleased to announce that, on 1 April, we will launch a 12-month pilot programme providing free travel to companions of blind concessionary card holders on all ScotRail services. ScotRail will meet the costs associated with the pilot from its existing budget, and Transport Scotland, working with ScotRail, will monitor and evaluate the impact of the pilot to inform the next steps. At that point, they should be able to identify the costs of providing that service on a permanent basis.”
“The context of places is important in those considerations. The next stage would be the business case, and strategic economic and social aspects would be built in to that, if there were a recommendation to proceed. I reassure Mark Ruskell that I am aware of the reasoning behind the invitation from him and other local MSPs, and I would be delighted to accept that invitation to visit Newburgh, as diaries allow.”
“However, I feel that the cabinet secretary and officials will fully understand that economic opportunity only if they come to Newburgh and meet people and businesses to understand their vision for economic transformation for the area. The cabinet secretary will be aware that Willie Rennie, Claire Baker, Murdo Fraser and I wrote to her this week to invite her to Newburgh. I reiterate that invitation and ask the cabinet secretary whether she will consider coming to Newburgh before a decision is made, which, on the basis of her first answer, appears will happen in May. Fiona Hyslop: I appreciate the local community’s efforts in assisting SEStran with its transport appraisal for Newburgh. As I have said, the appraisal involves consideration of a range of multimodal options, including the option of a new station at Newburgh.”
“My officials continue to work collaboratively with the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, which is leading on the Newburgh transport appraisal, and its partner, the Newburgh train station group, and are actively reviewing the latest documents received from SEStran on that. The appraisal involves consideration of a range of multimodal options, including the option of a new station at Newburgh. I have also made clear to my officials that I would like their advice before the end of May, as I understand that the work has been on-going for some time, with Scottish Government support and funding. Mark Ruskell: I know that the case that has been submitted to Transport Scotland makes a compelling argument for the economic transformation not just of Newburgh but of Abernethy and the surrounding area.”
“That is a live procurement, so I cannot comment on it, but I can say that those seven new vessels will improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, business and communities, and their electric operation will contribute to reduced carbon emissions and make ferry travel more sustainable. As the Deputy First Minister told the chamber yesterday, Ferguson Marine will understandably be disappointed by the outcome of the current procurement. However, the yard continues to be supported by the Scottish Government in considering future investment and is actively pursuing a number of commercial opportunities, and its business strategy does not rely on solely on one contract.”
“We have the MV Glen Sannox operating on the Arran route, and we will see delivery of the MV Glen Rosa and the four new vessels that are under construction in Turkey. CMAL continues to work with the yard to ensure that those vessels are delivered as soon as possible. I regularly meet and receive updates from CMAL, and I discussed the matter with the chief operating officer earlier today, stressing the importance of getting those vessels into service. That will enable us to increase capacity and reliability in the fleet as well as splitting the Little Minch routes into a two- vessel service and providing a resilience vessel in the major vessel fleet. CMAL has, of course, also moved to lead-bidder stage on phase 1 of the small vessel replacement programme, which will bring a further seven new electric ships into operation across the network.”
“We expect MV Caledonian Isles to return to service in April, when she will operate from Ardrossan following requests from the local MSP, Kenneth Gibson, and local communities for that service to continue for as long as possible. A parallel service will run from Troon, with MV Glen Sannox. The budget that has been agreed for 2025-26 means that we will be investing up to £530 million in the delivery of ferry services and ports works. That is £530 million investment for our island communities that the Labour Party and the Conservative Party refused to support in the budget. The Government provides around two thirds of service running costs, which, remarkably, means that we can keep many fares cheaper now, in 2025, than they were in 2006-07, when Labour was in power.”
“This debate allows the Opposition to attack the Government, but it also provides an opportunity to highlight the significant progress that this Government is making to enhance and improve ferry services in Scotland. We recognise that there are challenges in the network—those mainly relate to issues emerging from annual overhauls and the delayed return of the MV Caledonian Isles—and I apologise to communities that are impacted by them. All members in the chamber should acknowledge the commendable work of the CalMac crew and port teams in continuing to deliver services. In the previous reporting period for contract year 8, they delivered 95.8 per cent of scheduled services.”
“I urge the member to note that I will attend the Public Audit Committee on the issue shortly, to explain the progress and what we will do in response to the Climate Change Committee’s imminent report. We are now expecting there to have been 88.5 million passenger journeys in the year to the end of March 2025, which is an increase from the 82 million passenger journeys in 2023-24. Although the peak fares pilot scheme has ended, demand has grown by an average of 4.5 per cent in each four-week periods this year, compared with the same period last year in which the peak fare removal pilot scheme was running. Despite the end of the scheme, we are seeing passenger growth, which should be welcomed.”
“Following the Audit Scotland recommendation to clarify our commitment, we will review the existing target, informed by the advice that we are due to receive from the Climate Change Committee, and develop a new, longer- term target. Richard Leonard: I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply. However, I ask her: will next month’s rise in all rail fares, last year’s reinstatement of peak rail fares and this year’s cut in railway ticket office opening hours move us closer to, or further away from, the Government’s target of a 20 per cent reduction in car use by 2030, or has the Government secretly abandoned the target altogether? Fiona Hyslop: We have not secretly abandoned anything. It was indicated in May 2024 that it would be challenging to hit that target.”
“The Scottish Government is supporting the reduction of car use by providing free bus travel for 2.3 million people in Scotland, giving £1.6 billion to rail in this financial year, and supporting regional transport partnerships and councils to develop affordable, available and accessible alternatives to car use. We continue to press the United Kingdom Government for a four- nations approach to the reform of fuel duty. I recognise that car use will remain an important part of rural life. There will be different routes to reducing car use in different parts of Scotland, and I do not expect car use in rural areas to reduce at the same rate as in urban areas. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has agreed to publish in Spring 2025 a renewed policy statement on car use reduction. Behaviour change takes time.”
“Responsibility for Network Rail is reserved to the UK Government—that has not stopped the Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden asking excessive numbers of written questions about it, and I am not sure whether we will get a rebate on them—but I expect ScotRail and Network Rail to work together under the alliance agreement to deliver the best service possible for the people of Scotland. However, I know that the only way to truly ensure the best outcomes for Scotland’s railway is through the full devolution of rail to Scotland. That is why Scottish ministers continue to call for that.”
“For London North Eastern Railway and TransPennine Express, cancellations were recorded at 4.8 per cent in that year. Kenneth Gibson: Figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that ScotRail has one of the lowest cancellation rates for train operators in the UK, as we have just heard, and that Network Rail was responsible for more than half of the delayed minutes on ScotRail, with 551,873 minutes being lost last year. Given that responsibility for Network Rail lies exclusively with the UK Labour Government, will Scottish ministers continue to raise with that Government the need for improvements? Fiona Hyslop: All delays are disappointing. My officials at Transport Scotland are working closely with Network Rail to ensure that it delivers value for the £4.2 billion that the Scottish Government is providing to it between 2024 and 2029.”
“ScotRail performs better than most operators in Great Britain. ScotRail cancellations in the previous financial year averaged at just over 2 per cent of all services. That means that there were fewer cancellations than there were immediately before public ownership and that the rate was lower than the 2023-24 GB average of 3.8 per cent. Most recently, ScotRail cancellations were recorded to be at 1.9 per cent, whereas they are at 4.2 per cent for the GB network as a whole. That demonstrates ScotRail’s continued progress and its commitment to providing a reliable service for the people of Scotland. ScotRail also compares favourably with other operators in Scotland. For example, for privately operated Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry, recorded cancellation rates in 2023-24 were around 7 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.”
“On the importance of speed awareness courses, I think that they are required as a diversion. After this question session, I will chair the road safety strategic partnership board. Police Scotland is a member of that, and I will press it in order to understand what progress is being made.”
“National speed awareness courses have been in place in England and Wales for a number of years, and studies have shown that they can be more effective at reducing reoffending than a fine and penalty points. The Scottish Government has been asked about this on a number of occasions—most recently today at First Minister’s question time— but we still do not have an answer as to why those courses are not available in Scotland. Is the Scottish Government committed to introducing the courses, and what are the next steps? Fiona Hyslop: As the transport secretary, I am very supportive of speed awareness courses as part of the process of addressing the issue. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs is taking the matter forward with justice and police colleagues, and I will report to Parliament when there is progress.”