The Act Consultation on strategy
14.Section 2(1) requires the Scottish Ministers to consult with any such persons they consider appropriate, as well as the general public, as part of the preparation of the strategy. This consultation requirement reflects recognition that there is wide public interest in transport in Scotland and accordingly, the views of members of the public directly affected by transport decisions must inform the development of the strategy. There is also wide stakeholder interest in transport including for example from transport operators, third sector organisations, and businesses. These views will also be taken into consideration as part of the preparation of the strategy.
15.Section 2(2) was drafted to take account of the consultation on the then existing draft non-statutory national transport strategy which closed for consultation responses on 23 October 2019. This subsection ensures that the national transport strategy, in its current form, satisfies section 2(1) retrospectively and therefore precludes any requirement arising for a further consultation on the same strategy to take place after section 2 comes into force.