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The Scottish Government does not hold this information. There is no requirement for those using bird-dissuading mesh to submit information on how many birds have been trapped and have died.

The scheme will build on learning from the small local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years.

Expected learning from the scheme includes impact of providing free bus travel, demand for this concession, the cost of providing this concession, and the practicalities of delivery of such a scheme at the national level. Evidence to inform the evaluation will be collated both during and post the operation of the pilot.

Development of a national pilot scheme to provide travel support for people seeking asylum and not currently eligible for the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes is ongoing. Further information will be published on the Scottish Government website and provided to third sector organisations as preparations for the pilot to open are made.

The development of the national pilot scheme is building on useful learning from the small scale local and regional pilots that have been delivered by third sector organisations over recent years. These projects include the Grampian Regional Equality Council Report on the free bus travel project in Aberdeen, the Travel Choices Project Report by the Refugee Survival Trust and the Friends of Scottish Settlers project in Falkirk.

Representatives of these and other Third Sector organisations are members of the Working Group and are providing valuable advice and knowledge in the development of the national pilot.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is a multi-topic Act with an extensive number of statutory instruments needed to implement the various parts. Given the scale of this piece of legislation we have taken a measured and considered approach in implementing the Act.

Large sections of the Act have been fully implemented including workplace parking, low emission zones, and parking prohibitions. Significant progress is being made in relation to the remaining areas including bus services (with franchising and partnership powers commenced in December 2023), and ticketing arrangements and schemes.

In relation to your specific questions:

1. We are exploring opportunities to enhance open data so more public transport information is available to users and third parties. Legislation is not the sole route, our Bus Open Data provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act are high level to allow us to work through what can be done without legislation; recognising technology advancements and operators’ positive participation already through services such as Traveline Scotland. However we are actively considering secondary legislation requirements in light of Department for Transport advances and our current data provision services in Scotland and will seek further feedback from local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships.

2. We will be laying regulations before the end of 2024 on the appointment, removal and replacement of panel members; the remuneration of panel members; and the process to be followed by the panel in making decisions.

3. The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB), established in 2023, will advise on national ticketing standards, as well as delivery of measures from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. Timescales and costs of delivering a national integrated ticketing system will be supported by the advice of NSTAB.

Peak times on East Kilbride to Glasgow route currently see 4 services per hour. ScotRail advises that off peak services, which see 2 trains per hour are meeting the current passenger demand. With this in mind, there are no current plans to extend the 4 trains per hour service to off peak travel. However ScotRail keeps services under continued review to ensure the passenger demand is met.

The electrification of the of the branch line from Springburn to St Rollox works does not form part of current suite of rail enhancement projects funded by Transport Scotland. The member may wish to contact Network Rail directly to enquire if the current owner of the site has made any enquiries or proposals to fund such works.

The area under the Kingston Bridge West Street on and off ramps requires fencing off to address a growing problem of anti-social behaviour. Issues include the lighting of fires, illegal drug use, discarded hypodermic needles and graffiti.

It should be emphasised that skateboarders who use the unofficial skate park are not being blamed for this anti-social behaviour.

The unofficial skate park lies within the area to be fenced-off. However, contrary to suggestions in the media, Transport Scotland has no intention of closing the skate park and, indeed, is supportive of the initiative. Gated access will be required to the area for bridge maintenance purposes. Transport Scotland and Amey will be happy to discuss how shared access can be accommodated, to allow continued use of the skate park.

Transport Scotland’s Operating Company, Amey Highways, is progressing the fencing scheme. The work will commence in the autumn and will be completed by the end of the year.

Transport Scotland will review Amey’s treatment of graffiti on the South West Trunk Roads Network against their contractual requirements. We are supportive of using street art to deter undesirable graffiti on trunk road structures. Work has already been commissioned for various structures within the Glasgow area with final designs having already been submitted by street artists for approval.

Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads in their area and duties under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic.

The vast majority of funding to local authorities 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.

In 2024-25, Glasgow City Council will receive over £1.6 billion to fund local services, which equates to an extra £74.9 million to support vital day to day services or an additional 4.9% compared to the 2023-24 budget.

Ultimately, it is for locally elected representatives to make local decisions on how best to deliver services to their local communities.