Frequently asked questions
What is the Performance Audit Group (PAG)?
Halcrow, working in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Scott Wilson, was re-appointed through competitive tendering by Transport Scotland as PAG for a second seven year term from December 2002. Halcrow and PricewaterhouseCoopers monitor performance on the four Units. Scott Wilson’s role in PAG is primarily to monitor the M6 DBFO project. Further sub-consultants with a support role include: TRL, Tony Ham Insurance Brokers and
the University of Dundee.
What is PAG’s role?
PAG audits, monitors and reports on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the operating companies (OCs) to a plan agreed with Transport Scotland. PAG also reviews payment requests from the OCs and carries out inter-Unit comparisons and value for money investigations at the request of Transport Scotland.
What is a trunk road?
A trunk road is a road considered by the Scottish Government, through its agency, Transport Scotland, to be strategic to the national economy.
All motorways and some A-roads are designated as trunk roads (see figure 1).
Are trunk roads managed and maintained in a different way to other roads?
Yes, trunk roads are the responsibility of and funded by the Scottish Ministers. As such they are managed by Transport Scotland, maintained by the OCs and monitored by PAG. Local authorities are responsible for managing, maintaining and monitoring non-trunk roads.
What is Transport Scotland?
Transport Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national transport agency responsible for helping to deliver the Government’s £3 billion capital investment programme over the next decade, overseeing the safe and efficient running of Scotland’s trunk roads, rail networks and concessionary travel scheme.
What are Transport Scotland’s responsibilities for trunk roads?
Transport Scotland is responsible to the Scottish Ministers for overseeing the management and maintenance of the trunk road network. To assist with this, it employs OCs, works contractors, concession companies and PAG.
What are OCs?
The operating companies are responsible for delivering the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in each Unit, working under contract to Transport Scotland. During the reporting year 2007/08, the OCs for each Unit were: BEAR for NE and SE, Scotland TranServ for NW and Amey for SW.
What do the OCs do on the network?
The OCs oversee, coordinate and undertake cyclic and routine maintenance, winter service and emergency response. In addition, they undertake structural road maintenance, bridge strengthening and maintenance, road structures inspection, road safety and minor improvement schemes.
What else do the OCs do?
The OCs also oversee and coordinate maintenance works carried out by contractors and coordinate works by utility companies (statutory undertakers). The OCs undertake day-to-day management of the Unit; provide professional and design services;
