Scottish Government Debate: Affordable Bus Fares

Stephen Flynn S7M-00367 That the Parliament recognises the importance of affordable bus services connecting people to employment, education and essential services; welcomes the success of the free bus schemes available to 2.4 million people, including all those aged under 22, over 60 and disabled people; believes that more can be done to make it easier and cheaper for everyone to get around and supports, therefore, the phased rollout of a £2 bus fare cap, building on its introduction in the Highlands and Islands; endorses the introduction of the £2 cap in Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde as quickly as is practicable as part of the next phase of a national rollout, and welcomes the opportunity to develop Better Buses legislation in the current parliamentary session to support the delivery of affordable fares nationally and foster new routes, not least in rural areas. Further details available for S7M-00367 Graham Simpson S7M-00367.1 As an amendment to motion S7M-00367 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Affordable Bus Fares), insert at end "; believes that any such legislation should aim to streamline the process of introducing franchising, and calls on the Scottish Government to speed up its work on introducing multi-modal smart ticketing across Scotland. Further details available for S7M-00367.1 Daniel Johnson S7M-00367.3 As an amendment to motion S7M-00367 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Affordable Bus Fares), insert at end ", and calls on the Scottish Government to take active steps to make bus franchising a reality, by providing the funding and support necessary for Regional Transport Partnerships to fully and more rapidly exercise the powers set out in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, and to advance public control of farebox revenue so that Scotland's passengers, not private operators, benefit from a restored public bus network." Further details available for S7M-00367.3 Craig Hoy S7M-00367.4 As an amendment to motion S7M-00367 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Affordable Bus Fares), leave out from "believes that” to end and insert "considers that a functioning bus network should be centred on affordability and reliability and that competition between different providers is the most effective way to achieve this; notes with concern the deteriorating provision of bus services across Scotland, including the numerous routes, particularly in rural areas, that have had their service levels reduced or removed; warns that the expansion of concessionary bus travel could increase the risk of inequality in access to bus services between urban and rural areas; calls on the Scottish Government to take greater action to protect bus drivers and tackle anti-social behaviour on buses, and agrees with the views that the regulations and code of conduct implemented in the previous parliamentary session to remove passes from passengers who commit anti-social behaviour are not strong enough." Further details available for S7M-00367.4