Seòmar agus comataidhean

Since the answer given to question S6W-32194 on 3 January:

1.The position on funding for new flood protection schemes has not changed since 3 January 2025.

2.The total available funding to date for flood resilience including flood resilience schemes has not changed since 3 January 2025.

3.Potential new Flood Protection Schemes outlined in Local Authority Flood Risk Management Plans in 2021 will be considered as part of any new funding agreement – this will require updated estimated costs from Local Authorities for cycle 2 schemes.

Expected costs for cycle 1 schemes are given below. This updates the information given in response to question S6W-30798 on 7 November. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Table for local authorities for cycle 1

Transport Scotland and our operating company BEAR Scotland have held discussions with various local stakeholders regarding the A84 Teith Bridge and options for active travel improvement between Doune and Deanston. Transport Scotland is working closely with Stirling Council in regard to this matter.

Consideration has been given to widening the existing bridge. The existing structure is Category A listed, therefore options to widen the bridge or construct a new facility immediately adjacent to it cannot be taken forward. In addition, there would be a need to realign and widen the A84 and acquire land. The limited width on the bridge deck and the inability to widen the bridge means that any improvement to the active travel infrastructure must be either a new structure further away from the existing bridge, or restrictions to vehicular space on the existing bridge.

Restrictions to vehicular space will impact the movement of vehicles across the bridge introducing queuing and delay, including to public transport services. To assess the impacts of this, a vehicular traffic modelling exercise was undertaken considering the viability and merits of potentially introducing permanent traffic signals. The detailed traffic modelling simulates the operation of vehicles in one direction at a time across Teith Bridge with traffic signals on both north and southbound approaches. This would allow the vehicular space on the bridge to be reduced to a single lane and give more space for wider footways. A pedestrian phase in the signals would allow active travel users to cross the A84 on the south side of the bridge.

Two options have been modelled. The first used traffic signals to control vehicles on the A84 in one direction at a time across the bridge. A second option incorporated the adjacent B8032 into the traffic signals. This improves access and egress to and from the local road, however increases delay for traffic on the A84. Both options included the pedestrian phase for crossing the bridge. Traffic survey data was gathered in early 2024 to inform the modelling. To simulate peak visitor times and future years, appropriate factors based on existing and historical traffic data were applied to test a range of scenarios.

The exercise was completed in January 2025, ahead of schedule. The modelling showed that the three way operation incorporating the B8032 would result in unacceptable levels of delay and queuing. A simple vehicular shuttle operation on the bridge may operate with acceptable levels of delay and queuing for vehicles including in average traffic conditions in the summer. However, the modelling indicates that in the peak hours in the summer and easter periods there may be longer delays to vehicles which may not be acceptable. As a result, further investigation is required.

Transport Scotland and BEAR have shared the results of the modelling with Stirling Council and met with them to discuss it. Stirling Council has requested that a live exercise be undertaken to directly investigate the impact on delays to vehicular traffic.

Taking account of the requirements of all modes of travel, including public transport services, it is recognised that the best form of improvement may not be amendment to the trunk road and the existing bridge, or that these may only be a temporary measure. It may be more practical and effective to create an entirely new, offline facility. The results of the traffic modelling exercise will help to inform this. Alternative options would lie outwith the trunk road and therefore outwith the responsibility of Transport Scotland. Progression of these would be the responsibility of Stirling Council or the Regional Transport Partnership to take forward, and Transport Scotland has suggested that the Council continue to appraise the best means of active travel connection between the two communities.

Discussions are underway in Transport Scotland to establish the potential for bringing forward the live exercise, however this will be subject to available budgets and the prioritisation of active travel schemes across the country. Should it be possible to undertake the trial, following this, further discussions will be held with stakeholders, including Stirling Council, and a decision on any further steps balancing the needs of the users of all modes of travel will be made.

The Scottish Government values our land for its multiple uses, which include food production, nature restoration, energy security and to our economy.

Many large-scale renewable energy projects lease the land where they are sited. Land managers will have site specific insights on how land is best used given its location, local demands and economic returns.

To deliver our Vision for Agriculture, we want to ensure that farming across Scotland continues sustainably into the future, by shifting to low carbon sustainable farming by producing high-quality food for the nation. While also using our land in alternative ways to help contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering increased biodiversity and wider environmental benefits.

Scotland’s renewable energy sector is expected to continue to generate substantial, long-term job creation, driving sustainable employment and economic growth across various industries and communities.

A report from The Fraser of Allander Institute (2023) highlighted that Scotland’s onshore wind energy sector supported 12,030 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles as of 2021. Economic Impact of Scotland’s Renewable Energy Sector | FAI.

A ClimateXChange (CXC) report, commissioned by the SG, estimates that by 2027, onshore wind development alone could support 20,500 FTE jobs in Scotland. Mapping the current and future workforce and skills requirements in Scotland’s onshore wind industry.

The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivorous species into Scotland.

Neither the Scottish Government, nor NatureScot, have carried out any formal assessment of any potential impact that lynx would have on rural communities and livestock in Scotland given our position on the matter.

Any proposed lynx reintroduction would require a significant amount of consultation, as well as evidence to assess the risks and benefits associated. Ensuring that the views of those who would be most affected are fully taken into account is a priority for NatureScot and the Scottish Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-36341 on 22 April 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Section 47 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 requires the Scottish Ministers to prepare and publish an environmental policy strategy. There is no deadline set in the Act for the publication of a strategy. The Scottish Government published the Environment Strategy Vision and Outcomes in 2021. Updates to the strategy are in progress.

Sub-contracting arrangements within the Small Vessel Replacement Programme Phase One vessel contracts are ultimately determined by the main contractor and may reflect existing supply chain relationships. The wider programme of works to support the new vessel deployment and operation includes around £40 million of shore power upgrades, power connections and port improvement works. These works will be progressed across the network over the coming years to enable delivery from around summer 2027 and may present further sub-contracting opportunities.

Adult to child staff ratios are set by the Care Inspectorate as the regulatory body for the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector and as experts in assessing high quality, safe and nurturing ELC provision.

The Care Inspectorate has no plans to update the current guidance, published 2018. Therefore, the Scottish Government has made no assessment of the potential impact on the average cost of childcare provision relating to ratios.

The proposed consultation on phasing out the use farrowing crates for pigs was originally intended to have been delivered jointly across all UK administrations. However, progress on a number of important pieces of animal welfare legislation have been significantly delayed or has ceased due to delays in UK Government timetabling, such as the Kept Animals Bill.

Regardless, the Scottish Government is pressing ahead on improving the welfare of all animals in Scotland, including pigs. This included updating and publishing the Scottish Government’s Guidance for the Welfare of Pigs.

We continue to listen and work with the industry and stakeholders on how best to achieve improvements in animal welfare as well as monitoring industry information to allow us to determine how to ensure best practice is delivered, and remain committed to consulting on ending farrowing crate use.