Performance overview

Performance overview

Performance overview

The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of Transport Scotland, its purpose, and activities. The section also includes information on key risks and issues for the organisation and a high-level summary of performance in 2022-23.

Overview – purpose and activities

Transport Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. We are responsible for the majority of Scotland's transport system and are accountable to the Scottish Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers.

We seek to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland, playing a key role in helping to achieve the Scottish Government's purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish.

We oversee the operation and improvement of the trunk road, lifeline ferry, inland waterway, and railway networks in Scotland; air passenger facilities in the Highlands and Islands and we are responsible for helping grow Scotland's direct international air connectivity; national concessionary travel schemes and the provision of network traffic and travel information services.

We are responsible for Scotland's transport system and are accountable to the Scottish Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers.

• Our purpose is to support and advise Scottish Ministers on strategy and policy options for transport in Scotland, and to increase sustainable economic growth, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through the development of national transport systems.
• Our aim is to help create an accessible Scotland, with a safe, integrated, cost-effective and reliable transport network, helping to deliver a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses, and visitors.
• Our vision is outlined within our National Transport Strategy, and we seek to create a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increased wellbeing, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and equal opportunity for all.

Our core principles are:

• To strive for continuous improvement in transport delivery both nationally and internationally.
• To promote transport integration.
• To support the transition to active and more sustainable forms of transport.
• To maintain a clear outward focus on the needs of transport users.
• To work in partnership with transport providers, communities and wider government in our planning and delivery.
• To make the most efficient use of public resources and equip our staff to do the best possible job.

Our vision

We will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe, and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses, and visitors.

Reduces inequalities

• Will provide fair access to services we need
• Will be easy to use for all
• Will be affordable for all

Helps deliver inclusive economic growth

• Will get people and goods where they need to get to
• Will be reliable, efficient and high quality
• Will use beneficial innovation

Take climate action

• Will help deliver our net-zero target
• Will adapt to the effects of climate change
• Will promote greener, cleaner choices

Improves our health and wellbeing

• Will be safe and secure for all
• Will enable us to make healthy travel choices
• Will help make our communities great places to live

Organisational Structure:

The Chief Executive is the Accountable Officer for the agency, appointed by the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government and reporting to the Portfolio Accountable Officer, currently Director-General Net Zero. They are supported by a senior management team comprising nine Directors.

Each Director oversees one or more transport modes and / or policy areas and is supported by a range of teams covering all aspects of business delivery within their respective directorates. We also support Scottish Ministers in prioritising future transport policy, strategy and investments and the delivery of a low carbon economy.

There are nine Transport Scotland directorates as shown below.

Aviation, maritime, freight and canals (AMFC)

The Directorate helps grow Scotland's direct international connectivity and supports transport links to Scotland's remote and island communities. It is responsible for policy development, contract management and sponsorship of certain public bodies. Transport matters within AMFC's remit include aviation, canals, maritime interests including ports and harbours, and freight. The sponsorship function looks after Scottish Ministers' interests in Glasgow Prestwick Airport (until 25 January 2023), David MacBrayne Limited, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, and Scottish Canals.

Bus, accessibility, and active travel

The Directorate is responsible for the Scottish Government's policy relating to bus, active travel, smart and integrated ticketing, and accessible travel. It supports local authorities, delivery partners and bus operators to deliver sustainable, accessible local transport solutions and improve bus services. It promotes walking, cycling, and wheeling (includes wheeled mobilities such as wheelchairs), operates the concessionary bus travel scheme for disabled, older, and young people, and works with operators to ensure all journeys on Scotland's bus, rail, ferry, subway, and tram networks can be ticketed or paid for using smart technologies.

Ferries

The Directorate promotes the connectivity of our islands and remote communities through contract management, vessel and infrastructure replacement and development of the Islands Connectivity Plan. The Directorate manages the ferry contracts for the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles services as well as developing future procurement strategy and operational policy, such as fares, for these services. It also works with a range of partners to deliver a programme of vessel replacements and related harbour and port infrastructure works.

Finance and corporate services

Finance and Corporate Services supports the operation and governance of Transport Scotland, which includes providing core services and advice to areas such as finance, human resources, learning and development, information governance, IT, facilities, health and safety, secretariat, and Communications. The Directorate also has a leading role on a range of corporate governance functions including risk management, the operation of the Audit and Risk Committee and corporate reporting requirements.

Low carbon economy

The Directorate's purpose is to advise and support Ministers to deliver a Just Transition from a fossil-fuelled transport system to a zero emission transport system, including leading the Scottish Government's mission to remove the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, delivering strategically coordinated investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, promoting the uptake of electric vehicles across public and private fleets, encouraging skills development to support future net zero needs and supporting wider sustainable transport and economic outcomes.

Major projects

Major Projects is responsible for design, development, procurement, and construction of major trunk road and other infrastructure projects across Scotland, alongside leading and advising on procurement and contract management matters for Transport Scotland and maintaining our status as a Centre of Excellence for the delivery of major projects.

Rail

The Rail Directorate is responsible for Scotland's rail policy and delivery. This includes oversight of the services provided by ScotRail Trains Ltd, which is overseen by Scottish Government's wholly owned and controlled arm's length company Scottish Rail Holdings, managing the Serco Caledonian Sleeper rail franchise, developing rail policy, and aligning it with wider social and economic policy. It specifies and funds the operation, maintenance, and renewal of Network Rail's infrastructure in Scotland. It is also responsible for specifying and funding major rail projects alongside industry partners, promoting, and investing in the development of sustainable rail freight, managing economic regulation of the railways, and monitoring and advising on the affordability of the rail programme.

Roads

The Roads Directorate is responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of the Scottish trunk road network, roads policy, road safety, including oversight of progress towards national casualty reduction targets, Intelligent Transport Systems and lighting, resilience, winter maintenance and transport planning of major events, roads and bridges design standards and air quality and the environment including climate change adaptation and asset management.

Transport strategy and analysis

The Directorate has responsibility for the National Transport Strategy and all analytical services, providing the evidence basis for our policies and investment decisions affecting all of transport. It also coordinates and improves the effectiveness of our policy and investment delivery, ensuring the work of Transport Scotland and the transport system best contributes to the Government's strategic objectives of addressing climate change, eradicating child poverty, having a fair and growing economy and sustainable public services.