20mph speed limits: FOI release

Information requested

1. All briefings, notes, and analysis undertaken by Transport Scotland about the implementation of the 20mph speed limit initiative, from between August 2023 until the date of this FOI.
2. All briefings, notes, and analysis undertaken by Transport Scotland, about deterring Scots from driving to work, including options to help with this, between August 2023 and the date of this FOI.

Response

As the information you have requested in part 2 is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations.

Response to your request

In regards to Part 1 - I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in the format you asked for it.

Section 25 (1) Otherwise Accessible - Some of the information you have requested is available from Search | Scottish Parliament Website

The Scottish Government are committed to implement 20 mph speed limits on those roads where it is appropriate to do so by 2025. The 20 mph task group has been exploring the most effective way of achieving that commitment in Scotland, giving full consideration to the outcomes of the 2018 Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill, which fell at stage 1 in 2019 and the introduction of legislation in Wales “Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit)” 17 September, to not only ensure we achieve our shared objectives of safe roads and increased walking and cycling, but to be confident we are implementing 20 mph speed limits where they are appropriate.

Work is now underway to establish a delivery sub group, who will work across all 33 road authorities to devise an implementation plan and advise on the best way to implement widespread 20 mph speed limits where appropriate by 2025.

In regards to Part 2 - We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with part 2 of your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested. The reasons why we don’t have the information is we have not done any policy work around “deterring Scots from driving to work” in the period you requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400394802 - Information Released - Annex

File type

37 page PDF

File size

1.8 MB