Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to work with the Scottish Government to improve (a) rail and (b) ferry provision in (i) Fife and (ii) Scotland.

Scotrail run rail services in both Fife and wider Scotland, and responsibility for these services lie with the Scottish Government. Similarly, ferry services are also devolved to the Scottish Government. This Government is, however, working to ensure public ownership across rail services. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill will ensure that ScotRail is kept in public hands.

This Government is committed to resetting the relationship with the Scottish Government to ensure we can work together to deliver for the people of Scotland on the things that matter most to communities, including on transport links between Scotland and the rest of the UK. I have already met with the Deputy First Minister on numerous occasions to discuss a variety of issues. My officials regularly engage with their counterparts in the Scottish Government, working with their colleagues in the Department for Transport, to identify opportunities for collaboration on improving transport and other services.