1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve transport options in rural areas. (S6O-02276)

Our strategic transport projects review includes recommendations that are focused on rural areas, including connecting towns and villages, improving active travel on trunk roads and investing in demand-responsive transport to improve connectivity.

However, we are already taking action. The Go-Hi project has improved accessibility to integrated transport services in the Highlands. The community bus fund and the toolkit of powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 will enable local authorities to pursue options that best meet their needs, including the distinct challenges that rural areas face, and this year’s record active travel funding will support new projects for rural communities.

Bus services are a vital lifeline for local communities, especially in rural areas. In my region, a constituent with poor mobility used to take the 27A bus from Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy to collect her prescription. That service has been cancelled, which makes it even more difficult for her to get her much-needed medicine.

Due to the Scottish Government’s decision not to extend the network support grant plus scheme, fares have risen by an average of 15 per cent across east Scotland, and it is projected that local services in Fife will be cut by a further 10 per cent. Will the Scottish Government publish its fair fares review before the summer recess in 2023, or will my rural constituents continue to suffer additional cuts to routes and increases in costs?

The network support grant plus was a package that we put in place to help bus operators during the Covid pandemic and which had a real impact on services. It was designed not to be a permanent fixture but to deal with that period of emergency.

We will continue to work in partnership with bus operators and local authorities to create the best possible services. The network support grant will continue to provide support to the bus industry in 2023-24. It is paid per kilometre travelled, which targets support at the longer and less commercially viable routes in rural and island communities.

We will publish our fair fares review in the near future. As Roz McCall and others will understand, it is a hefty piece of work that we want to get right for all the people of Scotland.

The minister will be aware that the former Deputy First Minister agreed with Orkney Islands Council to establish a task force to look at replacement of the ferries that operate on Orkney’s lifeline internal routes. Since the election of the new First Minister, proposed meetings of the task force have not taken place. I am not aware of alternative dates having been set, so I will be grateful if the minister will advise when the task force is due to meet next, and if he will give an assurance that the topic will remain on the radar of the Cabinet, given that the former Deputy First Minister is no longer in post.

The task force will be chaired by the new Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison. I will update Liam McArthur when a date is in place for the first meeting.

We recognise the importance of the work of that task force. I intend to go to Orkney in the very near future. As Liam McArthur is aware, I have had a couple of meetings with the council there in recent times. I hope that the co-operation and collaboration that we have in place will continue.

Scotland’s rural communities have great ideas on how to improve our national rail network. At the moment, ScotRail services pass through Newburgh, but have not stopped there since the station closed in 1955. A simple low-cost modular station could reconnect Newburgh to the rail network. What discussions has the minister had about the opportunities that modular stations provide? Will the minister agree to meet me and the Newburgh Train Station Campaign group in the months to come?

In the short time in which I have been in post, I have not had any discussions about modular stations, but I understand that Transport Scotland officials are already engaged with SEStran—South East of Scotland Transport Partnership—on its appraisal of the Newburgh area and have offered a meeting. It should be noted that modular stations are not suitable for all locations but, as always, I am happy to have further discussions with Mr Ruskell and his constituents on those matters.