Extract from Scottish Parliament question time: Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity - Jun 12

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of FirstGroup. (S5O-03363)

Scottish Government officials last met representatives of FirstGroup on 4 June.

The cabinet secretary will be aware of FirstGroup’s significant plans to pursue strategic options, through sale or other means, to separate FirstBus from FirstGroup. What input will the Scottish Government have to those plans? In my constituency and areas throughout Scotland, FirstBus is the first port of call.

FirstBus has reassured us that services and existing investment plans will continue as normal while the future of the bus business is decided. FirstBus has undertaken to keep us informed of developments, and has said that it will work with its employees and the trade unions to explain its plans and their implications. I assure Sandra White that we will continue to engage with FirstBus on the matter until it has clarity on its plans. We will continue to impress on FirstBus the importance of continuing with services, at present.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that the sale of FirstBus offers an ideal opportunity for councils that want to run their own bus services, such as Aberdeen City Council? Will the Government support that?

It does. Amendment 68 to the Transport (Scotland) Bill, to create Lothian Buses-type schemes, which was passed by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee today, and which was supported by the Labour Party, is one that I welcome, and which will allow councils to do that.