Sue Webber

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 3 Feb 2026

The Scottish Government does intend to review the provision of secure parking facilities for HGV's on the trunk road network.Providing adequate lorry parks would contribute to improving road safety and reducing crime and would significantly improve working conditions for HGV drivers. It would also avoid disruption in locations not designed to accommodate lorry parking. Rest and welfare facilities are a key part of national and international road freight infrastructure, and provision of these to an appropriate standard is fundamental to ensuring safe, efficient and effective supply chains. Improvements to facilities would therefore also help support the Scottish economy and its growth.The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) ‘Recommendation 36’ includes proposals for a detailed national audit and review of support for lorry parks. This would include consultation with the freight industry, representative bodies, local authorities, and other stakeholders to collect views on the provision of lorry parks including where and what type of facilities are required.I am meeting with the Road Haulage Association in February to discuss recommendation 36 and how Transport Scotland can support key stakeholders in the HGV industry.

Answer · Angela Constance · 4 Feb 2026

As set out in the answer to S6W-42807 on 19 January 2026 and its accompanying questions, the prevention and enforcement of vehicle crime, including engagement with stakeholder bodies is an operational matter for Police Scotland.All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 29 Jan 2026

At National level, the Scottish Government is working closely with partners, including the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland, to deliver the 2025-26 Programme for Government commitment to a new national skills planning approach for skills needs at national and regional levels. New or improved processes will be designed with stakeholder engagement, including employers, colleges, universities, training providers, Enterprise Agencies, and regional partners.Apprenticeships are a key pathway to careers in the freight sector. Collaboration with employers and other key stakeholders is an integral part of the development, design and re-design of apprenticeships, with organisations strongly encouraged to get involved in apprenticeship development and to help identify demand.Specifically for freight, Modern Apprenticeship pathways are currently available for Freight Logistics at SCQF levels 5, 6 and 7 via Skills Development Scotland. In 2024-25, Transport and logistics apprenticeship starts were among the top ten starts by occupational grouping in 2024-25, comprising around 3% of total starts. The achievement rate for freight logistics apprenticeships in 2024-25 was 80%, in line with the overall average, demonstrating the success of our education and training providers.Our 2025 Draft Transport Just Transition Plan highlighted opportunities for workers in decarbonising transport, including the freight sector and, to date, we have invested just over £1.2 million to support Scotland's colleges to move at pace to prepare for the transition and provide relevant training.In 2023, in collaboration with industry, the Scottish Government established the Zero Emission Truck Taskforce, who published a Decarbonisation Pathway including actions on workforce skills development HGV Decarbonisation - Pathway for Scotland - Zero Emission Truck Taskforce | Transport Scotland.Following on from this, in 2025 Transport Scotland set up a zero-emission heavy duty vehicle skills forum to help share knowledge among industry and other stakeholders. This covered various topics related to skills and workforce challenges, including attracting and retaining talent.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 27 Jan 2026

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the maritime sector to the people and economy of Scotland, including the value of short sea shipping routes.Ports in Scotland are independent commercial bodies. Ministers have no involvement in the day to day running or commercial decisions of a port. It is the responsibility of individual ports to identify potential new routes and any necessary infrastructure improvements; including the business case and funding to support this and an assessment of any consents that may be required. The Scottish Government is open to discussing with port operators and other stakeholders what, if any, support it may be able to offer for the movement of freight.Freight Facilities Grants of over £25 million have been made to Scottish ports since 1997. This has enabled ports to purchase shore based handling equipment, has allowed piers and berths to be built or refurbished and enabled rail lines to be built into ports.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 28 Jan 2026

The Scottish Government works through established national and regional governance structures to ensure that freight-related infrastructure investment aligns with wider economic and industrial priorities. Regional Economic Partnerships and City Region and Growth Deals provide coordinated engagement between local authorities, industry, and national agencies, supporting investment in freight corridors, ports, and logistics assets. This approach is guided by National Planning Framework 4, which sets clear spatial priorities for development, including regeneration areas and energy transition zones where improved freight connectivity is essential to unlock economic opportunity. Local Development Plans are also required to align with these national and regional strategies.The draft Infrastructure Strategy, published for consultation on 13 January 2026, further strengthens this alignment, highlighting the role of national developments such as Green Freeports, where public and private investment in transport and enabling infrastructure is coordinated. As part of the Green Freeports Programme bidders were required to show how seed capital proposals aligned with regional and local transport plans, regional Economic Strategies, Local Development Plans, and skills plans.In addition, the second Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR2), published in 2022, provides the evidence base for future transport infrastructure investment. It highlights the economic importance of safe, efficient, and resilient movement of goods to Scotland’s economy and the predominance of road freight. It also notes the need for the freight sector to support Scotland’s 2045 net zero ambitions, identifying opportunities to increase rail freight and reduce dependence on road haulage alongside advances in low-maritime, rail and road technologies.