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The consultation produced a significant number of scientific objections and we saw value in reviewing the scientific evidence.

The business case, to report in 2014, will determine the demand for high speed rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow. That will inform future decisions on rolling stock. There is no specification at this time for the design of new rolling stock, which could be used for the Edinburgh to Glasgow service.

Initial assessment of the environmental benefits of high speed rail was presented in Fast Track Scotland. However, that analysis was for the construction of an England to Scotland high speed line. Further appraisal of the environmental benefits of an Edinburgh to Glasgow high speed line will be conducted as part of the business case development process, reporting in 2014.

The minutes of meetings of the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail, organised by Transport Scotland, will be published shortly on the Transport Scotland website.

Other meetings have comprised information sharing meetings, seminars and informal meetings or have been organised by other parties who hold minutes of those meetings independently.

We intend to conduct route appraisal and business case development in 2013. That process will report in 2014.

As part of the business case for a high speed rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow, an assessment of the benefits to Scotland will be undertaken. This work will establish the economic benefit of each minute of journey time saved as a consequence of a high speed journey. We are not able to provide a figure at this stage nor can we use an analogous figure, for illustrative purposes, such as the figure used in appraisal of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvements Programme since the benefits and values for each project are distinct and are conditional on the assumptions that apply within the business case of each project.

The Edinburgh to Glasgow link is an integral part of the development of high speed rail in Scotland which could see both Edinburgh and Glasgow connected to each other as well as independently to the network proposed elsewhere in the UK.

It was recommended by the then Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee in 2009 (Report on the inquiry into the potential benefits of high-speed rail services, TIC/S3/09/R) that planning for high speed rail in Scotland should ensure that both Edinburgh and Glasgow were served by high speed rail. That inquiry heard from many of the organisations which subsequently formed the Scottish Partnership Group for High Speed Rail. Indeed, it was a recommendation of that group that we also considered the possibility of an ‘early win’ from planning for high speed rail in Scotland and investigated the development of and Edinburgh to Glasgow link.

These factors will be considered during business case development. That process will report in 2014.

Transport Scotland holds regular discussions relating to rail links northwards from Edinburgh and Glasgow. These typically involve discussion with Network Rail, First ScotRail, Local authorities, Regional Transport Groups, business groups and others. It would be impractical to attempt to capture the full scope of this level of engagement.

The period referred to also includes the intensive process of consultation supporting the Rail 2014 exercise during which Transport Scotland staff met with many organisations and members of the public during formal structured meetings and open events held at Railway stations.

With reference to services operating northward from Edinburgh and Glasgow, Transport Scotland staff held open events at Fort William, Inverness, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Stirling stations, and engaged with approximately 1700 passengers/members of the public, encouraging feedback to the Rail 2014 consultation.

Regional Transport Partnership meetings were also held in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Attendees included:

Dundee: Tayside And Central Scotland Transport Partnership, Stirling Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Angus Council, Dundee City Council, Institute of Directors, Tayplan, Stagecoach

Aberdeen: North East of Scotland Transport Partnership, Scottish Council for Development Industry (SCDI) Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Grampian Regional Equality Council, MS Society Aberdeen, Maureen Watt MSP, Alison McInnes MSP.

Inverness: Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership, Highland Council, Inverness Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Kyle Line, Moray Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Federation of Small Business, Keith and Dufftown Railways, Muirtown Community Council, Argyle and Bute Council, Friends of the Far North line, Highland Cycle Campaign, Elgin Community Council, Scottish Green Party for Highlands and Islands.

Official also held separate meetings with Aberdeen and North East Scottish Council for Development Industry (SCDI), SCDI Inverness, Highland and Island Enterprise and Transform Scotland.

ConstructionSkills have confirmed that this is a relocation of their office within Inverness rather than a closure. However, I plan to write to the chair of ConstructionSkills to ask for reassurance that it will not impact on their service delivery.