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The Scottish Government has consistently supported high-speed rail, but not just northwards to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. To realise its full benefit for all of the UK high-speed rail infrastructure needs to be extended ‘further and faster’ to reach Scotland so that all regions can realise the benefits from the increased capacity and substantially reduced journey times that HS2 can bring.

On 22 June, the First Minister announced changes which will help benefit weddings. In particular, suppliers employed by the couple marrying or registering their civil partnership no longer count towards the numerical caps and live entertainment is now allowed at receptions.

The Scottish Government has also updated the Strategic Framework: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Strategic Framework update - June 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) . This update sets out that, subject to a review of the epidemic, on 19 July we hope that all of Scotland will be able to move to level 0, with physical distancing requirements outdoors removed and reduced indoors to 1 metre. On 9 August, conditional on over 40s being fully vaccinated and a review of the epidemic, we would hope to remove the levels restrictions and all physical distancing requirements.

We continue to regularly review the restrictions and guidance in place.

Performing arts activities and venues bring people together, sometimes from across a wide geographical area, in close proximity, often for an extended time period. These provide opportunities for transmission of COVID-19 as we know from, for example, SAGE evidence published in June 2020 S0824_SARS-CoV-2_Transmission_routes_and_environments.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk). High risk factors associated with transmission of the virus include indoor spaces, where ventilation and physical distancing may be less easy to maintain, and places where people come together to spend prolonged periods of time (more than 15 minutes) in close proximity, enabling the virus to spread from person to person, particularly from aerosol and droplet transmission. It is possible to have control of and to mitigate many of the risks in a venue. The Scottish Government guidance on performing arts and venues is, therefore, that organisers should take steps to avoid audiences needing to raise their voices to each other. Organisers of performing arts venues should also prevent other close contact activities such as communal dancing, singing or crowding. This guidance will be reviewed as decisions are taken on whether to reduce and remove remaining restrictions in the coming weeks.

There is no order generally referred to as an emergency traffic regulation order in Scotland.

Traffic authorities may make temporary traffic regulation orders (which are known as TTROs), under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These can prohibit or restrict the use of a road for a number of reasons, such as road works, damage to the road or danger to the public and generally can last for up to a maximum of 18 months. The Scottish Government issued guidance to local authorities on the use of TTROs and Notices in relation to the Covid-19 response in April 2020 which can be found at coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-temporary-traffic-regulation-orders-and-notices.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

There is no procedure for a TTRO to become a permanent order. A traffic authority can only make a permanent traffic regulation order in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic regulation Act 1984 and the relevant procedures as contained in the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (for local roads) or the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 (for trunk roads).

There is no order generally referred to as an emergency traffic regulation order in Scotland.

Traffic authorities may make temporary traffic regulation orders (which are known as TTROs), under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These can prohibit or restrict the use of a road for a number of reasons, such as road works, damage to the road or danger to the public and generally can last for up to a maximum of 18 months. The Scottish Government issued guidance to local authorities on the use of TTROs and Notices in relation to the Covid-19 response in April 2020 which can be found at coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-temporary-traffic-regulation-orders-and-notices.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

There is no procedure for a TTRO to become a permanent order. A traffic authority can only make a permanent traffic regulation order in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic regulation Act 1984 and the relevant procedures as contained in the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (for local roads) or the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 (for trunk roads).

There is no order generally referred to as an emergency traffic regulation order in Scotland.

Traffic authorities may make temporary traffic regulation orders (which are known as TTROs), under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These can prohibit or restrict the use of a road for a number of reasons, such as road works, damage to the road or danger to the public and generally can last for up to a maximum of 18 months. The Scottish Government issued guidance to local authorities on the use of TTROs and Notices in relation to the Covid-19 response in April 2020 which can be found at coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-temporary-traffic-regulation-orders-and-notices.pdf (transport.gov.scot)

There is no procedure for a TTRO to become a permanent order. A traffic authority can only make a permanent traffic regulation order in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic regulation Act 1984 and the relevant procedures as contained in the Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (for local roads) or the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 (for trunk roads).

The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has held a number of discussions with the UK Government about the benefits of HS2 to Scotland. The most recent discussions have focussed on the potential for a train manufacturing facility in Longannet and for a stabling and light maintenance depot for HS2 trains in Annandale, also highlighting that 25 Scottish based companies’ have won contracts for the construction of HS2.

In addition, the Feasibility Study completed by Transport Scotland in 2018 which identified the potential for a 3 hour journey time between Edinburgh and London in conjunction with the eastern leg of HS2 was discussed.

The 2017 Programme for Government initially committed to introducing Low Emission Zones (LEZs) into Scotland’s four biggest cities (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen) between 2018 and 2020. Scotland’s first LEZ (with an initial focus on buses) was launched in Glasgow at the end of 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an evaluation of this timeline and the new indicative timeline is for LEZs to be introduced into Scotland’s four biggest cities between February and May 2022. Once introduced, this is when a LEZ grace period of no less than one year and no more than four years will start.

Local authorities have the final decision on the duration of the grace period which is the most appropriate for their LEZ Proposal. Once the grace period has lapsed, penalty charge notice enforcement will commence.

The Scottish Government remains committed to reducing fares on Northern Isles ferry routes.

Following engagement with European Commission officials in 2019, Transport Scotland officials were developing proposals to introduce Road Equivalent Tariff. This work was rightly paused in early 2020, while resources were pivoted to deal with the Covid outbreak, however work has recently resumed.

Engagement between Transport Scotland officials and ferry operators has taken place and will continue as the work progresses.

Pentland Ferries have withdrawn, on commercial grounds, from discussions on the offer of the Time Charter of the MV Pentalina with CalMac.