Ann Henderson

TRANSPORT policy is high up the agenda in the forthcoming session in the Scottish Parliament. When the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999, the Scotland Act provided for responsibility for railways to remain largely with the government at Westminster. This, however, is set to change. The Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling MP, announced the outcome of the UK government’s rail review in the summer, and as a consequence we will be seeing the first amendments to the Scotland Act since 1999, as significant powers are transferred to the government in Scotland, the Scottish Executive. The refranchising process for ScotRail has been completed. This was a little different to other franchises, with the Scottish Executive drawing up the specifications for the franchise to give to the SRA, who then completed the process. The franchise will be transferred from National Express to First Group in Scotland next month and company claims to be committed to reducing overcrowding, provide new services on the Larkhall to Milngavie line, and the new Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line when it opens, more late night and public holiday services in Glasgow and the SPT area. First Group will face tougher penalties for poor performance. Concerns have been raised about competition legislation and bus routes currently managed by First Group, but the decision to award the franchise to First Group goes ahead. In addition, the Scottish Executive’s own White Paper on Transport, published in June, is being taken forward this session. It proposes the establishment of a Transport Agency for Scotland, and regional partnerships covering all local authority areas, including the abolition of the SPT. There are some changes ahead in how Scotland’s rail network is run. Significant funding will be required to allow for the maintenance of Scottish rail infrastructure. Although ScotRail provides over 90 per cent of Scottish services, there are vital connections to be maintained on the West Coast and East Coast mainline, and there is already doubt over the future of some of the Cross Country services running into Scotland. There are important rail freight services to be protected. The relationship between the Scottish Executive’s new Transport Agency and these ‘cross-border’ services, is not yet clear. RMT made submissions to discussions on the ScotRail franchise, and on the Transport Agency and will be following developments in transport policy, protecting existing jobs and services, and improving new rail services to which the Scottish Executive has given commitments. Another issue in the new session will be the future of the Caledonian MacBrayne services on the Clyde and the Western Isles. There is no agreement amongst the wider trade union movement and other organisations that this is necessary under European competition legislation. Despite the Altmark ruling and the ‘lifeline’ nature of many of our ferry services, the Scottish Executive is still pressing ahead. This will raise questions around service levels, jobs and conditions and funding issues for maintaining harbour and port facilities. The STUC will be raising questions in the Parliament and with the Scottish Executive, having given unanimous backing to RMT at the STUC Annual Congress in Glasgow earlier this year. Meeting the challenge in Scotland 27 RMT’s new Scottish policy adviser ANN HENDERSON outlines the work of the union north of the border Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh