2. INTRODUCTION

2. INTRODUCTION

WHO WE ARE

Our purpose is to support delivery of the Scottish Government’s vision for sustainable transport in Scotland, making a real difference for people and businesses using the national rail and road systems.

To achieve this during the Corporate Plan 2006-2008 period, we have five corporate Aims:

  • Ensure that Scotland’s rail and trunk road systems are managed efficiently, economically and effectively.
  • Establish and run the national concessionary travel schemes.
  • Deliver the Scottish Government’s committed programme of enhancements to Scotland’s rail and trunk road infrastructure.
  • Help to build Scotland’s National Transport Strategy by recommending and advising on investment priorities for tomorrow’s rail and trunk road networks.
  • Strive towards excellence by building our working principles into everything we deliver; and into how we work as an organisation.

This Business Plan sets out what we will do during 2007/08 towards these Aims, in turn delivering services and improvements to Scotland’s transport users.

WHAT WE DO

On behalf of the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland is responsible for:

  • The rail and trunk road networks. Transport Scotland is directly responsible for some functions on those networks ensuring that the Scottish trunk road network is managed effectively via our Operating Companies, consultants and contractors. In other cases, we manage and monitor services delivered by third parties – for example First ScotRail, the current rail franchisee for Scotland.
  • Supporting delivery of the project programme to enhance public transport and trunk road infrastructure. Again, in some cases Transport Scotland delivers these projects itself, and in others it supports or manages third parties to do that work.
  • Enhance the national concessionary travel schemes – the Free Bus Scheme for older people and disabled people and the concessionary travel scheme for young people.
  • Overseeing the provision of impartial travel information services – Traffic Scotland, Traveline Scotland and the UK service Transport Direct. It also supports increased provision of integrated tickets – the principle of ‘one ticket can get you anywhere’ – by working with commercial transport operators including First ScotRail and bus operators.

HOW WE DO IT

Transport Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Government. Agencies deliver public services directly, rather than through a traditional Government Department. They have a clear remit which is distinct from the wider role of a Department. This lets staff focus on the job in hand, with the right skills and resources all in one place. It also means the agency has a visible and understandable role for the public.

Transport Scotland is accountable to the public through Scottish Ministers, with our Chief Executive reporting directly to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change. We work in tandem with the Transport Directorate of the Scottish Government. Transport Directorate is responsible for a complementary range of policy and delivery functions including freight, ferries, air services and buses. Our staff have the specialist and technical skills needed to deliver the national transport projects and services within our remit.

Transport Scotland operates on the basis of five working principles, which are to:

  • Strive to become a centre of excellence in transport delivery, both nationally and internationally.
  • Promote transport integration.
  • Maintain a clear outward focus on the needs of transport users.
  • Work in partnership with other transport providers and wider government in our planning and delivery.
  • Make the most efficient use of public resources and equip our staff to do the best possible job.

OVERALL RESOURCES

We have around 300 staff working in five Directorates: Finance & Corporate Services; Major Transport Infrastructure Projects; Rail Delivery; Strategy & Investment; and Trunk Roads: Network Management. Our largest skills base is technical expertise in rail and road, with essential support skills including finance, procurement, capital programme management, communications, information technology and professional public policy skills. For the 2007/08 year we are responsible for programme funding of £1,489 million, of which we plan to spend £398 million on our major project investment programme.