Greener Bus
Transport
6. Liz Smith (Mid Scotland
and Fife) (Con)
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in 2021
to adopt greener bus transport across Scotland. (S6O-00503)
The Minister for Transport
()
In the year to 31 March 2021, the Scottish Government committed
more than £71 million, supporting the purchase of 272
zero-emission buses awarded under the Scottish ultra-low-emission
bus scheme, and unlocking more than £71 million of private
investment from bus operators.
A new Scottish zero emission bus challenge fund was launched this
year. It aims to support the bus, finance and energy sectors to
establish a self-sustaining market for zero-emission buses and
infrastructure. Bids have been submitted and are now being
assessed. That will further support significant change in the bus
market in favour of zero-emission technologies.
Liz Smith
Mr Dey is well aware that improving bus and train transport is
absolutely key in persuading the public to go green rather than
relying on extensive use of their cars. What is Mr Dey’s reaction
to the fact that First Bus
has cancelled altogether the X53 service from Stirling to St
Andrews and that Stagecoach has reduced the X56 service between
Perth and Edinburgh, both of which are causing constituents
across Mid Scotland and Fife serious inconvenience?
As I outlined in a previous answer, the relationship between the
Scottish Government and the bus operators is laid out very
clearly. One of the services to which the member referred will be
the subject of a members’ business debate next week, when we will
be able to explore it in detail.
Clearly, we want to encourage the bus operators to maintain as
many services as possible, especially during the pandemic,
recognising of course that some of the issues that have arisen
with the buses are down to driver shortages.
