The Act Background
6.Part 1 of the Act introduces a statutory duty on the Scottish Ministers to establish a national transport strategy for Scotland. Through the strategy the Scottish Ministers must develop a vision for transport to, from and within Scotland. In developing that vision, the Scottish Ministers must take account of the need to seek to improve a number of outcomes related to individuals and to wider society.
7.The Act places consultation at the centre of the strategy’s development by requiring the Scottish Ministers to consult with appropriate persons as well as the general public. Scottish Ministers are also required to publish a report outlining how the consultation process was undertaken and the ways in which consultation responses were incorporated as part of the strategy’s preparation and development. The Act reflects an understanding that consultation is fundamental to the successful development and implementation of the strategy by ensuring that the views of those who will be affected by the strategy are taken into account and, accordingly, that the strategy reflects a collaborative development process.
8.The strategy is subject to ongoing review and reporting obligations to ensure that it remains valid and relevant to evolving transport needs. More widely, the strategy also creates the opportunity for alignment between the national approach, Regional Transport Partnerships’ statutory transport strategies, discretionary local transport strategies and all other nationally significant policies.