Seòmar agus comataidhean

I want to ask about the bigger picture. We have NPF4, the strategic transport projects review—which has just been announced—the national transport strategy and the budget. Are those all properly aligned? Do they respect the transport hierarchy, or are there some differences or misalignment? I ask Paul White to answer first.

In the past, Transform Scotland has been somewhat critical of Scottish Government budgets in relation to the transport hierarchy and whether what is in the NTS materialises when it comes to spending the cash. Dr Brown, what is your thinking on those critical strategies and capital programmes and on whether they align?

We might have lost Caroline Brown, but she can respond in a future answer. Thank you, convener.

Does Rosie Simpson want to come in on that before I move on to a different topic?

Would you expect that, in any consultation on the introduction of a workplace parking levy, the public would be consulted on their priorities? Would they be able to see that there are alternatives coming down the track and that they will not be lumped with paying the charges for ever, because there will be investment in alternatives?

My question is on the back of Liam Kerr’s comments on local government funding. We have seen dramatically increasing capital budgets for walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure over a number of years now, but that is delivered via Sustrans to local authorities. It is ring fenced, and local authorities bid for it. This might be an unfair question, but is that the right balance or does more money need to go from those pots directly to local authorities to build the capacity to do the work to build out the plans? Is the current model of delivery via Sustrans the best approach? In effect, we rely on a national charity to deliver a national network.

That is perhaps a hard one for Chiquita Elvin, but I ask her and Caroline Brown whether they have any thoughts to share with us on that.

Chiquita, do you have any thoughts that you can share with us on that?

I will stay with Chiquita Elvin. Walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure is—for the first time, I think—included as a national development in NPF4. Is the framework detailed enough? What about STPR2? Is it clear what the Government wants to develop? I think that most people will look at that part of the framework and think that it is talking about the national cycling network. However, we have the concept of active freeways, and different levels of aspiration could be applied to that. Is it clear to what extent development in that is required?

So there is no real desire to look formally at the concordat or memorandum of understanding, and you are saying that we are very much led by practice on the ground, which appears to be working. Is that a fair summary? Is there any move to revisit formally those responsibilities and relationships?

Can you give me some practical examples of how the British Council works with the existing hub network, and also what your thoughts are on its expansion? A couple of weeks ago, the cabinet secretary indicated to us that the Copenhagen hub is already being developed—I believe that its director is being appointed at the moment. What do you see the opportunities being with that hub and with a future hub in Warsaw?