The Scottish National Party Scottish Government’s continued investment in our rail services is very welcome, with ScotRail being brought into public ownership, action being taken to drive down ticket prices and investment being made in new infrastructure. The recently opened Levenmouth rail link will bring a transformation to the area and to many of my constituents, improving access to leisure, economic, employment and educational opportunities.

Does the First Minister agree that the next United Kingdom Government must follow the Scottish Government’s lead and start to invest properly in the UK rail network while returning services to public hands?

I was delighted to have the opportunity yesterday, with local members Mr Torrance and my colleague Jenny Gilruth, along with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, to be present at the opening of Levenmouth rail link. It is a wonderful project, which has come about because of tenacious campaigning by the Levenmouth rail campaign, which garnered support on a cross-party basis for a new rail link. It will connect the communities around Leven to the rail network, opening up educational, social and economic opportunities for that community and also opening up that community as a place to visit and a destination on the rail network. It is a superb investment, and I congratulate everyone involved in the Levenmouth rail link.

I would certainly want the investment and resources to be available to ensure that we can undertake other projects of that character around the country, but that will only come if there is a stimulation to capital investment, which is absolutely and desperately required after 14 years of austerity.