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No significant issues have arisen. As a matter of course, Transport Scotland keep under review the requirement for training in respect of procurement issues, including the use of the new pre-qualifying European Single Procurement Document for future procurements.

(a) The last quarter for which we hold the latest complete personal injury accident figures is 1 January 2017 to 31 March 2017.

In this period, there were 8 Fatal, 36 Serious and 178 Slight Injury accidents giving a total of 222 injury accidents across the trunk road network.

(b) Winter 2016-17 is being defined as 1 December 2016 to 31 March 2017.

In this period, there were 15 Fatal, 45 Serious and 260 Slight Injury accidents, giving a total of 320 injury accidents across the trunk road network.

Source: Transport Scotland Accident Manager System

The figures quoted may differ slightly from those published elsewhere because they were exported on a different date and the database may have changed between the dates extracted, e.g. due to late returns or corrections to earlier returns.

The percentage of services delayed and cancelled in each of the last two quarters is set out in the following table.

As outlined in the Oil and Gas Production Statistics 2016-17 publication, 82 per cent of all oil and gas production in the UK across this period was produced in Scotland (including Scottish adjacent waters). Looking at gas production only, Scottish production represented 63 per cent of total gas production in the UK continental shelf. Hence, while it is the case that the UK as a whole has a significant dependency on imported gas, Scotland clearly has an abundance of natural gas resources. In fact in 2015, Scottish gas production represented roughly six times that of final consumption from within Scotland. To access this figure as well as view the level of gas imports over the last 10 years, please refer to the SNAP Commodity Balances and Trade 2015 statistical publication (see link).

The draft Energy Strategy identifies that 75 per cent of total energy consumption in Scotland is currently supplied by oil and gas. Going forward, the Scottish Government recognises the important role that hydrocarbons will continue to play in our energy mix, especially as we transition to a low-carbon economy.

Salt supplies came under extreme pressure during the severe winters of 2008-09 and 2010-11. Despite this, no roads authority ran out of salt.

Scotland's 32 local authorities are responsible for the maintenance and safe operation of the local road network, including Winter Service Operations and its own salt management. This includes all footways, footpaths and cycle tracks not in private ownership.

Salt stocks are fundamental to a successful winter on our roads and we currently have more salt in stock than was used for the whole of last winter. National salt figures are published on Transport Scotland’s website: .

The Scottish Salt Group was established during the severe winter conditions early in 2010. The group includes representatives of Transport Scotland (TS), the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). The Scottish Salt Group monitored the restocking process throughout the summer and met with suppliers to confirm there is adequate salt production to meet the demand. Road authorities recognise the need to have good salt stocks in advance of the start of winter to increase resilience and reduce reliance on in-season restocking.

BEAR Scotland manages and maintains the North-East trunk roads on behalf of Transport Scotland and this includes the A90 and A92 within the Dundee City Council boundary.

This would only be considered if the current commercial service ceased to operate and no alternative operator chose to operate the route on a commercial basis. The cost of a PSO on the Benbecula to Glasgow air route would be dependent on the specification of the service in terms of elements such as frequency, capacity and fare level and would be subject to an open tender exercise so as to ensure that best value was achieved.

Salt stocks are fundamental to a successful winter on our roads and we currently have more salt in stock than was used for the whole of last winter. National salt figures are published on Transport Scotland’s website:

The payment mechanism for the provision of winter service through our Operating Company contracts is a fixed ‘monthly sum’. This includes the procurement of salt, winter fleet and equipment for use on our trunk roads.

For this winter season, we have further invested in specialist plant. This includes an all-terrain 4x4 (Unimog) for use as a winter patrol vehicle on the M80, a Relief Vehicle for use during severe flooding events and a state of the art combi spreader for development of our liquid treatment trials.

The Scottish Salt Group monitored the restocking process throughout the summer and met with suppliers to confirm there is adequate salt production to meet the demand and that restocking targets for Scotland are being met.

Following the salt shortage of 2010-11, strategic salt was purchased (in addition to operational salt) and costs incurred to date are £11.9 million; inclusive of the purchase, haulage and storage. We have a strategic salt supply managed by the Scottish Salt Group of approx. 83,750 tonnes and requests from local roads authorities to use our strategic salt will be considered during emergencies.

We know heavy snowfall causes disruption and Transport Scotland continue to recognise the importance of a reliable and resilient transport network to people and the economy.

Transport Scotland is responsible for preventing snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles on trunk roads in Scotland. Significant planning is undertaken in advance of winter to ensure that the trunk road operating companies are prepared and to share lessons learned from previous years. The operating companies each have a Winter Service Plan, which is available online at:

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New contract specifications, specialist plant trials and innovations, greater use of technology and getting information to people ‘on the move’ are just a few of the ways we have strengthened the winter treatments, decision making and communication with road users on our trunk roads.

With a fully mobilised winter fleet of 208 spreaders with snow ploughing capability, our winter service capability has never been higher; and our pre-winter preparations, audits, scenario workshops and weekly winter calls will ensure that there is no room for complacency in our winter service despite the recent mild winters. Total salt in stock in Scotland on 7 November 2017 was 580,245 tonnes (including 83,750 tonnes of strategic salt). This represents 173% of total used in winter 2016-17.

Transport Scotland continues to recognise the importance of a reliable and resilient transport network to people and the economy. To sustain this improvement, an ambitious programme of actions is being taken forward for the coming winter. These actions include hiring an all-terrain 4x4 (Unimog) to trial as a patrol vehicle on the M80 to mitigate accessibility issues should another snow event occur on a strategic corridor.

Working closely with its Operating Companies’ supply chain partners, Transport Scotland has identified the opportunity to review operating practices and use of specialist ploughs during snow events; particularly at vulnerable locations such as gradients.

We work with our partners, including Police Scotland and the Met Office, in our state of the art control centre to keep Scotland moving across the winter months and we continue to use the best available technology to give road users the most up to date information about the roads when they require it.

As the trunk road authority in Scotland, legislation requires Transport Scotland to take such steps as it considers reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads. Transport Scotland discharges this duty by having contracts in place with Operating Companies who ensure the trunk road network is safe, efficient and well managed.

With a fully mobilised winter fleet, our winter service capability has never been higher; and our pre-winter preparations, audits, scenario workshops and weekly winter calls will ensure that there is no room for complacency in our winter service despite the recent mild winters.

We are continually investing in our winter service and for 2017-18 we have 208 vehicles, available for spreading salt and ploughing snow. The number of vehicles servicing trunk roads has been maintained from 2016-17 for this season. All frontline and reserve fleet have ploughing capability.

Dependent on the forecast weather conditions, up to 122 gritters with ploughing capability are deployed to provide precautionary salt treatments to trunk roads. A further 51 gritters are routinely deployed as required to patrol and provide additional salt treatments. The remaining 35 gritters are available to provide support to the frontline and patrol vehicles, as well as to cover breakdowns and essential maintenance.

Transport Scotland is working with the ScotRail Alliance to prepare for potential severe winter weather and expect to see further improvements in operational and customer services and travel advice offered. The preparedness will include snow clearing equipment and machines.

ScotRail will implement a robust communications plan ensuring passengers are prepared for adverse weather, including customer road shows at key stations throughout December, and the creation of a dedicated website and social media campaign for key messages.

ScotRail is obliged to provide the resources to operate the services as set out in the Franchise Agreement, which includes those required for winter preparation measures.