Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 15 January 2026.
Douglas Ross
Conservative
2:30,
15 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Transport Scotland and what issues were discussed. (S6O-05385)
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
Transport Scotland civil servants provide the entirety of the official support to me on policy and all matters relating to my portfolio as Cabinet Secretary for Transport. They are responsible to me and deliver Scotland’s national transport needs. The most recent meeting, involving Transport Scotland officials and the Scottish road works commissioner, took place earlier today, and I have had 19 meetings with, or involving, Transport Scotland officials since 5 January, covering operational delivery and policy matters across a range of areas, including trunk roads, ferries and weather resilience.
Douglas Ross
Conservative
Hamish Cullerton and Elizabeth Leslie own and run Highland Cuisine, which is the only food van that has been authorised by Highland Council to operate on the A9. In an article in The Press and Journal last year, they were described as
“a welcome sight, serving up a hot meal and a warm welcome to the A9’s weary travellers”.
They are providing a great service to local people—including me, as I often stop there on my way down to Edinburgh—and someone from Tasmania said that Hamish and Elizabeth had provided them with the best sandwich that they had ever eaten.
However, their problem is that they have not been given permission by Transport Scotland to put up signage to alert people to their food van, which means that drivers either pass by, missing the opportunity to take a break from driving and to get some hot food and coffee, or stop too quickly, which can cause an accident.
I have been in correspondence with the Cabinet secretary about the issue and wonder whether, when she next meets Transport Scotland, she could ask for a more reasonable approach so that that food van, which is providing a great service to travellers on the A9, can get the signage that would make it safer for people to stop there.
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
The member knows that I have some sympathy with the situation, which is yet to be resolved. The concern is that any proposal for signage within the trunk road boundary or on the verge of the road would be problematic, but that would not exclude the possibility of having signage somewhere nearby, with a landowner’s agreement.
In her reply to the member on 24 September, Alison Irvine, the chief executive of Transport Scotland, indicated that Transport Scotland would be happy to consider that being done via the appropriate planning process. She has not heard back from Mr Ross’s constituents, but Transport Scotland stands ready to hear their proposals, which might involve talking to neighbouring landowners as they look for a solution.
Brown signs are for visitor attractions, and we have some concerns about the issue of people wanting to turn right when they are heading north. There are concerns about how to safely allow signage. Understandably, there are rules, but we stand ready to engage on some sort of practical solution, which might involve the use of neighbouring land.
Kenneth Gibson
Scottish National Party
Transport Scotland knows that, under the new contract, on which CalMac is supposedly accountable to communities, CalMac proposes to impose completely unnecessary cuts on the Largs to Cumbrae ferry service over the busy summer period, allegedly to provide additional maintenance that has for decades been undertaken during the 10 hours in every 24 when the ferry does not sail.
The Cabinet secretary previously stopped CalMac from reducing its services to Cumbrae by a quarter, which was very much welcomed. Working with Transport Scotland and CalMac, will she ensure that the latest proposed timetable changes, which could only be detrimental to the island’s economy and which islanders vehemently oppose, are ditched forthwith?
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
The member has raised the issue previously. Reliability means regular maintenance, and regular maintenance is to be part of the new contract. However, I understand Mr Gibson’s concerns regarding the Cumbrae service. The regular maintenance outwith the annual overhaul schedule is intended to reduce unplanned disruption and overruns and improve overall service reliability over the piece.
CalMac is at the beginning of the process. I have been clear that it must work closely with local communities to ensure that any proposals are fully discussed. I will meet CalMac on 28 January to discuss a range of matters including its proposals to introduce scheduled maintenance windows. I reiterate that, at this time, no final decision has been taken in relation to its operations on Cumbrae. I will raise the issue at that meeting on 28 January.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
