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Making public transport easier for people to use is crucial in driving forward a greener, fairer Scotland, enhancing equality, growing the economy, and supporting communities.

With this in mind, I am pleased to announce the publication today of the Scottish Government’s updated strategy on smart, digital, integrated ticketing and payments.  https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/smart-digital-integrated-ticketing-and-payments-delivery-strategy-2024/

This strategy builds on the enhancements progressed since its first iteration published in 2018, such as enabling universal smartcards to be used across operators, supporting the provision of contactless payment to be available on 98% of buses in Scotland, and delivering smart concessionary travel for young people and on our ferry services to Orkney and Shetland. Technological advancements since 2018 have opened a vast array of new opportunities to rethink and evolve how we can continue to encourage use of sustainable public transport, and address the change in travel patterns and public expectations witnessed in the years following the pandemic.

It complements the delivery of my wider transport priorities and provides a refreshed vision, To increase the use of sustainable public transport by providing smart and integrated ticketing, payment, and journey planning data enhancements, contributing to a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland.

The strategy also aligns with the new National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board three year Work Programme, which is being published today as well, outlining the advice that will be provided to Ministers on the future of smart ticketing in Scotland. All of these actions seek to support the improved accessibility, availability and affordability of public transport.

We are continuing to work at pace on the Developer Remediation Contract to ensure alignment with the Housing (Cladding Remediation) Scotland Act 2024 and the Single Building Assessment (SBA) specification, which was published in June 2024. We are committed to sharing a draft with developers with a view to engaging in further discussions and we have been discussing timings with stakeholders.

Since 2016, the Scottish Government has provided Revenue and Capital Grant support to Scottish Canals as follows:

It is the responsibility of Scottish Canals to ensure that the maintenance and improvement of the canal network is resourced from its allocated budget and aligned to the aims of its Asset Management Strategy.

Following the signing of the Developer Commitment Letter by nine developers in 2023, work has been ongoing on the development of the Developer Remediation Contract. We are continuing to work at pace on the Contract to ensure alignment with the Housing (Cladding Remediation) Scotland Act 2024 and the Single Building Assessment (SBA) specification, which was published in June 2024. We appreciate the desire from developers to receive a draft contract and we will share this as soon as we are able.

Following the initial data collection exercise in December 2023 on the presence of RAAC in social housing, the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) published an update to the original figures at the end of March 2024.

This provides information on the number of social homes identified as containing RAAC and how many were still under investigation. At that time 1,994 homes were identified with RAAC present across 13 social landlords and 8,311 homes were still under investigation. The findings are available on the SHR website. Regulator publishes further update on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in social housing | Scottish Housing Regulator.

SHR are shortly undertaking further data collection and will release their updated findings in the coming weeks. In April, SHR published their Engagement Plans for every social landlord in Scotland, setting out why they are working with a landlord and what the landlord needs to do. Within these Plans, SHR has set out how they will engage with social landlords who have identified RAAC in their housing.

As confirmed by the then Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy in December 2023, the Scottish Government will share with the Economy and Fair Work Committee its assessment of the economic contribution of the Grangemouth refinery. This assessment will be published shortly.

CalMac have advised that they will publish their winter timetable and annual maintenance schedule by Friday 23 August.

The Cladding Remediation Programme is in a pilot phase. Of the 107 pilot entries there are currently 12 entries for which we expect assessment and any mitigation or remediation required to be led by Scottish Government.It is not possible to estimate the cost of remediating a building ahead of a Single Building Assessment (SBA) being undertaken. This assessment will identify the works needed to eliminate or mitigate risks to human life that are (directly or indirectly) created or exacerbated by the building’s external wall cladding system. While some pilot entries have already had pilot assessments, before costs can determined these assessments will need to be refreshed to ensure that they are completed in accordance with the SBA Standard to be specified by Scottish Ministers under the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

There were no artwork purchases in 2023-24.A detail of artwork spend in previous years is outlined below.

The Scottish Government is currently carrying out research with Rum residents and wider stakeholders, with the aim of reaching consensus on conditions of sale for Kinloch Castle. The Kinloch Castle Delphi Study is being led by analysts within the Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government.In March, we sent a survey invitation to all residents on the isle of Rum, and received a response from the majority of islanders. We shared the Round 1 report with all residents, and met with the Rum Community Association, Kinloch Castle Friends Association and Isle of Rum Community Trust to discuss the results. In July, we sent the Round 2 survey invitation to all residents. We have also invited Kinloch Castle Friends Association members to share their views in a separate survey. During Round 3, we plan to arrange an in-person community workshop on Rum. We aim to publish the final report by December 2024.