UNPOPULAR plans to merge transport policing north of the border into the main Scottish force suffered another blow today when Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf admitted they might never go ahead.

Mr Yousaf said that while the Scottish government still sees some benefits in fully integrating the two forces, ministers would “have to look again at whether the legislation would be commenced or not.”

The Scottish Parliament passed the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill in June, despite criticism from opposition parties, rail unions and others.