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The M8 Woodside Viaduct is a vital element of the motorway and road network serving Glasgow, the wider region and country, carrying approximately 150,000 vehicles per day. The decision to restrict traffic lanes on the viaducts was made for safety reasons by Transport Scotland’s Director of Roads, as reducing the live traffic loading on the structure was a key aspect to its management, continued use and repair.

Demolishing the structure was ruled out due to the economic, environmental and social impacts on businesses and communities served by the local and trunk road network, including the costs, durations and traffic volumes involved. The refurbishment option was considered to have less economic, social, traffic and environmental impacts. This decision was supported by stakeholders, who expressed significant concern over the impact of lane closures, let alone full closure of the viaduct.

The M8 Woodside Viaduct is a vital element of the motorway and road network serving Glasgow, the wider region and country, carrying approximately 150,000 vehicles per day. The viaducts are generally in good condition, with the exception of areas of the concrete supports. Permanent repairs for these areas will involve localised repairs and strengthening as well as drainage improvements and deck refurbishment. On completion, these works will have added many years of service to this structure and network.

Regular meetings continue with stakeholders, including emergency services and Glasgow City Council, on the project development and progress.

In terms of the wider use of the M8 through central Glasgow, Scottish Ministers strategic transport investment priorities were set out in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review published in December 2022. In line with the Sustainable Investment Hierarchy, we are focussed on the safety and reliability of the existing motorway network.

Any proposal to alter the role or function of the trunk road through Glasgow, is about the wider public realm and land-use within the city, therefore it is more appropriate that this work is proposed and led by the City Council. Transport Scotland will continue to engage constructively with local authorities where proposals or projects are considered to have a potential impact on transport assets and services owned and or provided by Scottish Ministers.

Glasgow City Council published the City Centre Strategic Development Framework in late 2019. Transport Scotland detailed in its response dated January 2020, that plans to improve connections across Junction 15, indeed any plans which affect the motorway through Glasgow, would require specific engagement with Transport Scotland given the potential impact on the strategic road network.

Transport Scotland regularly meets Glasgow City Council across a number of forums. However, they have not recently been approached to have any specific discussions with Glasgow City Council on the rationalisation of M8 junction 15, Townhead interchange or in regard to this District Regeneration Framework more generally. Nonetheless, my officials are preparing a response to the Townhead District Regeneration Framework public consultation.

This is a complex repair of an expansive structure that is trafficked by approximately 150,000 vehicles on a daily basis. Although temporary works are well underway, the final design for the permanent repairs is yet to be completed, which will then inform the overall project cost estimate.

The latest phase (propping works of the structure) includes a trial repair which is programmed for Summer 2023. The findings from that trial are key to the next stages as they influence the options for the final design and hence the total costs.

No date has been set for the electrification of the Maryhill railway line. However in line with the Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan this route will be considered by Transport Scotland, who will, in turn, provide advice to Scottish Ministers for decision.

The Decarbonisation Action Plan commits to all passenger diesel trains being replaced; the order and programme in which that is done will depend on business cases and available budgets.

The Scottish Government's concessionary bus travel schemes are the most generous in the UK, with free travel for under-22s, over-60s, and people with disabilities. The Partnership and Franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 allow Local Transport Authorities, such as those covering Greater Glasgow, to gain control over the fares in their area, but that would be a matter for the relevant Local Transport Authority.

The Chief Executives of Transport Scotland and Glasgow City Council met with Landsec on 9 November 2022 to discuss the proposed redevelopment of Buchanan Galleries.

Since then Transport Scotland and Network Rail officials have been engaged with Landsec to discuss further its proposals for Buchanan Galleries and the surrounding area. The most recent meeting was on 18 January 2023.

It is the responsibility of NHS Scotland to track mental health expenditure and ensure local budget decisions and use of the overall resources made available by the Scottish Government are used efficiently; effectively and deliver fit for purpose services in line with national and local priorities and the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Mental Health Directorate engages regularly with NHS Boards to discuss performance on key priorities.

The Scottish Government’s mental health budget is delegated to the Directorate for Mental Health within DG Health and Social Care. The Directorate manages the budget in line with the scheme of delegation as set out in the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

In line with the SPFM, the Directorate monitor the propriety, regularity and accuracy of financial transactions to ensure they are effective and efficient on a monthly basis via the DG Health and Social Care budget monitoring process. Progress is assessed on a regular basis and there is regular engagement with stakeholders in receipt of funding.

Net mental health expenditure is published on the Public Health Scotland website under data files This information is available for financial years 2011-12 to 2021-22 for each NHS Board in Scotland, split by various types of expenditure including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), adult mental health services, and older adult mental health services. Please note that expenditure data is collected by broad specialties and therefore categories may include multiple ‘services’.