Recommendation ETI-14: Utility Diversion Risk Management
From Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report, published 19 September 2023.
Recommendation
Although some participants in the Inquiry criticised the use of MUDFA to divert utilities in advance of the infrastructure works and advocated the “bow wave” approach to the diversion of utilities that followed the mediation settlement at Mar Hall, I do not think it appropriate to be prescriptive about how the risks associated with the diversion of utilities are managed. It is sufficient for promoters of light rail schemes to be aware of such risks and to demonstrate that they have adequate proposals for managing them.
In brief (written by this site)
In November 2023, Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, stated to the Scottish Parliament that the Scottish Government and its public bodies "already operate in line with these recommendations and best practice" through their delivery of major infrastructure projects (Màiri McAllan response, Nov 2023). The record holds no update since the Scottish Government's response of November 2023 (Màiri McAllan response, Nov 2023).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
The remaining thirteen recommendations cover a range of areas relating to the governance and delivery of light rail projects. While these recommendations are directed squarely at project leads and Local Authority officials, there is a link to much of the work being done by this Government and its agencies, including Transport Scotland.
I am pleased to report that this Government and its public bodies already operate in line with these recommendations and best practice as evidenced by our excellent record of delivering major infrastructure projects including the Borders Railway, the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Queensferry Crossing over the Forth Estuary, a complex engineering feat that has put our workmanship to the front and centre of global engineering.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: The statement gives this passage once, for what it calls "the remaining thirteen recommendations", and does not list them. The site records it on ETI-5, ETI-6, ETI-7, ETI-9, ETI-13 and ETI-14, the recommendations the site addresses to the Scottish Government that the statement does not answer elsewhere.
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Scottish Government has been found in the sources searched (last checked 31 January 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Scottish Government
Response