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The Scottish Government High Level Output Specification for Network Rail required Network Rail to develop a Scottish signalling strategy. This work considered the costs and benefits of ETCS carefully, but did not recommend immediate adoption in Scotland.

The Scottish Government does not routinely collect data on mothballed schools in Scotland. The Scottish Government does collect data from local authorities in order to collate a list of schools regarded as rural for the purposes of the Schools (Consultation)(Scotland) Act 2010. The most recent rural schools list was published on 25 October 2021 - Rural schools in Scotland - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . The rural schools list includes those schools the relevant local authority has mothballed. The 2021 rural schools list shows that 21 schools were reported as being mothballed. The following table shows how many rural schools are mothballed by local authority area.

The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our regulatory rail freight growth targets. The Lifting the Spirit Trial at Elgin in 2013 was led by regional transport partnership HITRANS, in partnership with the Scotch Whisky Association, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Moray Council and the EU Food Port. Their report is publicly available with lessons learnt. It is for the industry to lead on any follow up activities and Network Rail remains engaged with the industry through the Scotland Freight Joint Board and works with Freight Operating Companies and Freight End Users to enable modal shift to rail.

The movement of freight is a commercial matter and the Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our 2016 rail freight strategy, and put into practice with significant investment, a freight-first approach, and through our regulatory rail freight growth targets. The 2020 timber by rail trial in the Far North of Scotland proved the concept and provided lessons for the industry on the Scottish timber market, rolling stock/wagon capability and availability, operational considerations and the finances/economics of moving timber by rail. It is for the industry to lead on any follow up activities and Network Rail remains engaged with the industry through the Scotland Freight Joint Board and works with Freight Operating Companies and Freight End Users to enable modal shift to rail.

The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering these two new services. Although the current financial pressures mean that we are unable to provide a delivery timescale, we will continue to undertake preparatory work where possible.

The two most common contributory factors for accidents within half-mile radius of A90 Toll of Birness junction between 1 January 2014 and 5 March 2024 junction include: 'Failed To Look Properly' (indicated for 55% of accidents) and 'Failed To Judge Other Person's Path or Speed' (indicated for 45% of accidents).

Contributory factors also included 'Careless/Reckless/In A Hurry' (27%), 'Loss Of Control' (27%), 'Poor Turn Or Manoeuvre' (18%), 'Slippery Road (due to weather)' (18%), ‘Swerved’ (9%), ‘Vehicle Blind Spot’ (9%) and ‘Other’ (9%).

Please note that more than one contributory factor can be attributed to an accident.

The ScotRail rolling stock procurement plan has not been paused.

The Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan, which was published in July 2020 is currently being refreshed which will include consideration of the timescales for removal of ScotRail diesel stock.

No orders were placed in 2023 for a new fleet of Suburban electric and battery multiple units.

Plans for the procurement of a new fleet of EMU and BEMU Suburban trains are ongoing.

Whilst we do not set a public target per set, the numbers of available bursaries are published each year.

SEPA are in regular communication with Petroineos and their consultant Adler & Allen regarding the continued containment and monitoring of Glen Fruin, the Fruin Water, and its tributaries.

Officers from SEPA were on site week commencing 20th May and have confirmed that the ground investigation is progressing well, hand auger samples are largely complete and borehole sampling has begun. SEPA expect to receive the ground investigation report by late June but have requested an updated timeline from Petroineos to confirm this.