Thank you, convener. On that note, I will keep my opening remarks brief. First, I offer the committee my sincere apologies for my absence at the previous meeting, which was unavoidable due to illness.
When I last appeared before the committee, in October, we shared a mutual desire to see a focus by the ScotRail Alliance on improving performance to the levels that we expect and, more important, that the passenger expects. I had demanded a performance improvement plan that was intended first to stabilise and then to improve performance. At that meeting, I reported that the moving annual average—the public performance measure—was 89.6 per cent against the contractual trigger of 90.3 per cent. That moving annual average has improved to 90 per cent by period 10, which is 0.3 per cent away from the target that will lift ScotRail out of improvement plan territory. There are encouraging signs that the current four-week period could see a further increase in the moving annual average.
According to our latest information, more than 86 actions in the performance improvement plan have been completed; of the remainder of actions, the vast majority are under way. Shortly before Christmas, members will have noted that we thanked passengers for their patience during a difficult period with the offer of a free week’s travel to season ticket holders. I believe that that offer is a demonstration, alongside our tireless work on the performance improvement plan, of our commitment to ScotRail’s passengers and services.
Further discounts will be offered to weekly and less frequent travellers, whether for work or for leisure, particularly those using the ScotRail smart card for journeys. All that is backed by £3 million of funding—£1 million more than many were calling for. At the time of the announcement, I made it very clear that we would bring forward further details of the scheme in early 2017. I was clear at that stage that there would be a contribution from ScotRail as well as from the Scottish Government. Members will shortly see more details on that, confirming £3 million of funding and giving a little bit more detail on the offer for monthly and annual season ticket holders and for weekly ticket holders.
I will conclude with a few remarks on another topic that has had a fair bit of coverage since I last appeared, which is the further devolution of Network Rail. I am strongly of the view that greater devolution of Network Rail’s functions to Scotland would deliver better outcomes for passengers and taxpayers. I have, therefore, charged Transport Scotland with establishing an expert panel to provide practical advice on how we can achieve that outcome in a manner that fully accords with Network Rail’s reform agenda, as set out by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, last summer.
I am, of course, happy to answer any questions that you or members may have.