- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many signs are located along the (a) A82, (b) A828, (c) A83, (d) A835, (e) A85, (f) A86, (g) A87, (h) A887, (i) A889, (j) A9, (k) A95, (l) A96 and (m) A99, and what proportion does not meet current standards for visibility and effectiveness, broken down by Category (i) 1 and (ii) 2 defects.
Answer
Category 1 defects are defined within the term maintenance contract as those that present, or could present, an immediate hazard to trunk road users. They are typically detected during the twice weekly driven safety related inspections. Category 2 defects are defined as those which do not present an immediate hazard to road users and are typically identified during walked annual inspections.
The following table contains the number of signs on the routes requested along with the number of signs with open defects of all types as at 12 February 2025.
| | Number of signs | Category 1 defects | Category 2 defects |
A82 | 5517 | 17 | 1600 |
A828 | 971 | 3 | 87 |
A83 | 2050 | 9 | 711 |
A835 | 1033 | 0 | 239 |
A85 | 3028 | 2 | 958 |
A86 | 1545 | 2 | 339 |
A87 | 2341 | 3 | 481 |
A887 | 188 | 0 | 67 |
A889 | 289 | 0 | 153 |
A9 | 6062 | 18 | 1374 |
A95 | 1157 | 0 | 84 |
A96 | 3064 | 18 | 274 |
A99 | 430 | 2 | 63 |
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) contributes to its efforts to reduce road freight traffic, and what impact this has had on (a) road congestion and (b) air quality.
Answer
Since 1997, Freight Facilities Grants have removed over 50 million lorry miles from Scotland's roads. The exact impact on road congestion and air quality of each project cannot be confidently described due to the effect of other local influences on transport demand.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that projects funded through the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) align with its (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) transport strategy.
Answer
Taking freight off congested roads and moving it by rail or water can ensure that freight is moved in an efficient, flexible and sustainable manner. Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) can act as an enabler for companies investing in facilities that without FFG, would not happen as they would not be commercially viable
Heavy goods vehicles are a major contributor to emissions within the Scottish economy. Emissions from rail are considerably lower. Scottish Government policy to encourage the shift of freight from road to rail and other, more sustainable forms of transport aligns with the priority to “take climate action” in the National Transport Strategy 2 and supports the legislative target for Scotland to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
The Scottish Government has set regulatory targets for rail freight growth. The target for the period 2024 to 2029 is 8.7% and, if achieved, is forecast to result in an additional 2,200 annual trains by 2029.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the long-term efficacy of projects funded through the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG).
Answer
Traffic monitoring is undertaken after a facility funded under the grant scheme becomes operational.
Transport Scotland requires applicants to provide a return of traffic passing through the grant-aided facility. Transport Scotland will require verified tonnages reports from the applicant, in cases where the applicant is required to provide evidence to corroborate the traffic the documentation required will be agreed prior to the award of grant.
Monitoring will cover an agreed period of time to allow the required environmental benefits from the grant to be accrued by the applicant.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) supports projects in both urban and rural areas equally.
Answer
Any company, in either a rural or urban area, which wants to move freight by rail or water rather than by road and which is proposing to invest in new freight handling facilities in Scotland or re-invest in existing facilities in Scotland may apply for Freight Facilities Grant. All applications are treated on their merits.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many investigations have been carried out each year under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021; how many led to a report being made to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), and how many subsequent (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were, also broken down by how many people convicted were given a (i) fine and (ii) custodial sentence.
Answer
I am aware of the recently reported worrying that is doing the rounds and that leading up to lambing I will once again be reminding people of their obligations to understand the responsibilities they have when in the countryside with dogs.
The worrying of livestock by dogs is completely unacceptable and is something the Scottish Government takes very seriously, recognising the distress and the serious welfare and financial implications it causes.
That is why we supported the introduction of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which came into force on 5 November 2021.
The Scottish Access code is quite clear as to what is considered responsible behaviour when dog walking in the countryside. I would encourage people to familiarise and remind themselves of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and to exercise caution and vigilance when in and around farms and fields with livestock to help prevent livestock worrying incidents.
Please see the data below from both the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Service. Please note that The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on 5 November 2021. The 2021 Act amends the offence under the 1953 Act so all proceedings are still under the 1953 Act (as amended).
Table 1: Charges reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) under:-Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 S1(1)&(6)-Worry livestock on a farm – attack.
| | Financial Year Reported |
| | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
Charges Reported | 34 | 72 | 76 | 57 |
Charges Prosecuted | 5 | 26 | 11 | 6 |
Charges Convicted | 4 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
Note: 2021-2022 is with effect from 05 November 2021 2024-25 is for the period 1 April 2024-31 January 2025 |
Table 2: Number of accused convicted with at least one protection of livestock from dogs crime.
Financial year of conviction | Number of case accused |
5 Nov 2021- March 2022 | 5 |
2022-2023 | 7 |
2023-2024 | 14 |
April 2024- June 2024 | 1 |
Total | 27 |
Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services
Table 3: Number of accused convicted with at least one protection of livestock from dogs crime, given a fine or imprisonment
Financial year of conviction | Disposals | Number of case-accused |
5 Nov 2021- March 2022 | Fine | 3 |
2022-2023 | Fine | 5 |
2023-2024 | Fine | 8 |
April 2024-June 2024 | Fine | 0 |
| | Imprisonment | 1 |
Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce specific outreach programmes to increase awareness and the uptake of the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) among under-represented sectors, such as the agriculture or food production industries.
Answer
The Freight Facilities Grant is a well-known scheme having been in operation since 1997. Transport Scotland continues to raise the profile of the scheme across all areas of the Scottish economy. In March 2025, it is intended to undertake an exercise with stakeholders asking for applications for 2025-26, working with industry bodies representing a range of sectors.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) helps businesses meet their environmental and sustainability targets, and what specific metrics or outcomes are used to evaluate this.
Answer
Taking freight off congested roads and moving it by rail or water can have environmental and wider social benefits but it can be more expensive. Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) is therefore available to assist with the extra costs generally associated with moving freight by rail or water by offsetting the capital costs of providing the required freight handling facilities. It is also available to help companies reinvest in existing rail or water freight facilities where the traffic may revert to road transport.
The value of environmental and social benefits is based on calculating the benefits of removing one lorry mile of freight from road and transferring it to rail or water.
Monitoring is undertaken after a facility funded under the grant scheme becomes operational.
Transport Scotland requires applicants to provide a return of traffic passing through the grant-aided facility. Transport Scotland will require verified tonnages reports from the applicant, in cases where the applicant is required to provide evidence to corroborate the traffic the documentation required will be agreed prior to the award of grant.
Monitoring will cover an agreed period of time to allow the required environmental benefits from the grant to be accrued by the applicant.
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the ways in which local authorities engage with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2025
- Asked by: Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 February 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) scheme has supported the growth of Scotland’s ports and logistics infrastructure, and what improvements have been made to port facilities as a result of this funding.
Answer
Freight Facilities Grants of over £25 million have been made to Scottish ports since 1997. This has enabled ports to purchase shore based handling equipment, has allowed piers and berths to be built or refurbished and enabled rail lines to be built into ports.
