Over £2m has been invested in average speed cameras (ASC) on the A90 to make the road safer for everyone travelling along the route.

As part of this spend, £43,853 was invested to develop and deliver a robust communication strategy which aimed to raise awareness around the introduction of ASC on the route.

These cameras are already encouraging improved driver behaviour and better speed limit compliance, which will lead to fewer camera detections, fewer penalty points, fewer drivers fined, and ultimately reduce the number of people being killed or injured on this route.

The benefits of integration were identified in the Policy Memorandum to the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill:

 - ensuring that railway policing in Scotland is accountable, through the Chief Constable and the SPA, to the people of Scotland;

- enhancing railway policing in Scotland through direct access to the specialist resources of Police Scotland;

- future-proofing the infrastructure policing model in Scotland against changes that may arise from the review of infrastructure policing in England and Wales.

Alongside the Policy Memorandum, the Scottish Government published a report compiled by an independent research company that summarised the views of respondents to the Scottish Government consultation, including benefits and disbenefits. The Financial Memorandum set out projected costs associated with the Bill.

The Joint Programme Board which is overseeing the programme has continued to develop its understanding of benefits, risks and costs as more detailed work on integration has progressed.

The Scottish Government's approach to supporting rail freight is outlined in the rail freight strategy, Delivering the Goods, which was published in March 2016. This is backed by significant investment in our railways including a
£30 million ring-fenced Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Investment Fund which is helping to unlock opportunities for rail freight across the country. Looking ahead, we have set regulatory targets for Network Rail through our High Level Output Specification (published in July 2017) to work with industry partners to attract new freight and grow existing markets. Whilst decisions on moving goods and the development of freight handling facilities are a matter for the commercial sector, the Scottish Government continues to operate EC state aid approved modal shift grant schemes which aim to remove freight from road to the more sustainable modes of rail and water, these grant schemes have enabled rail freight services to remove millions of lorry miles from our roads.

The Scottish Government has given clear assurances in Parliament that the terms and conditions, pay and pensions of British Transport Police officers and staff will be the same as they are currently, or that an equivalent level of benefit will be provided to ensure transfer takes place on a no-detriment basis.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the stops that have skipped each year broken down by how many times, on the Borders Railway.

ScotRail provides Transport Scotland with performance information by Sector Group and these are monitored against the specified benchmarks contained in the Franchise Agreement.

The Scottish Government recognises the concerns of the local community following the tragic death of Logan Carrie in 2015 on the A92 north of Glenrothes and is committed to improving crossing provision on the route. We have invested over £35.1 million on the A92 since 2007 to ensure it continues to operate safely and efficiently. We have also been evaluating potential measures, which have highlighted a number of issues and we are considering alternatives which may be more appropriate for this location.

We have recently constructed a new footpath alongside part of the A92 and reduced the speed limit in this area.

As previously discussed with community representatives, we will meet them again early in the new year to discuss our progress on the A92 around Glenrothes and Freuchie.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the percentage of services each year on the Borders Railway that have arrived at each stop on time.

Performance in the railway system in Great Britain is measured using the Public-Performance Measure (PPM), which counts all trains planned to run, which run and arrive within five minutes of their scheduled arrival time.

ScotRail provides Transport Scotland with performance information by Sector Group and these are monitored against the specified benchmarks contained in the Franchise Agreement.

The Scottish Government wants all children and their families to eat healthily, have a healthy weight and enjoy the same healthy life expectancy no matter where they live. We recognise there is no simple solution and are presently consulting on a bold new diet and obesity strategy. This proposes a package of measures to improve the food environment and improve children’s diet including limiting the promotion of products high in fat, sugar and salt and tackling advertising. The consultation on A Healthier Future - Action and Ambitions on Diet, Activity and Healthy Weight' runs until 31 January 2018.

Through the Curriculum for Excellence, every school pupil is entitled to learn about food and health, not just practical cooking skills but also nutrition, hygiene and making choices alongside the influence of advertising. We are also supporting children to eat a healthy balanced diet throughout their school day including free school meals for Primary 1-3. Between 2015-19 we are investing £50 million in Active Schools.

Any change to the way in which exams are delivered in Scotland is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you.

Across Scotland, environmental protection - including pest control and nuisance - is the responsibility of the environmental health department of the relevant local authority.