To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to clean the railway tracks and station environments in Inverness and the north of Scotland and what plans there are for improving such arrangements.

Network Rail arrange the cleaning of railway tracks, including the track bed within stations, in accordance with their Annual Management Maintenance Plan and in agreement with Environmental Regulations.

Through Transport Scotland’s Service Quality Inspection Regime, First ScotRail managed stations are audited for track litter within station areas. Information on any failure is passed to First ScotRail for appropriate action to be taken.

Network Rail, in partnership with First ScotRail, are looking at ways to improve the method with which track cleaning is undertaken throughout Scotland.