5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve access to public transport for people in the Motherwell and Wishaw Constituency. (S6O-02668)

This Government and its partners have rebuilt Motherwell station, with passengers now enjoying new facilities in the station. This project has also provided enhanced interchange for bus services and has improved active travel routes to and from Motherwell town centre and the local area.

Passengers throughout Scotland, including in the member’s Constituency, are benefiting from lower fares as a result of our decision to trial the removal of peak fares on ScotRail services to encourage modal shift.

We are also providing unprecedented levels of support through our concessionary travel schemes, which allow free bus travel for passengers who under 22 or over 60.

Those measures are very welcome in my Constituency, especially our wonderful new station.

At surgeries, I frequently come across constituents who are suffering from the effects of an austerity-driven cost of living crisis, including many people with disabilities who have not accessed free bus travel even though they are entitled to do so. Will the Minister advise how we can better raise awareness of concessionary bus travel as a passported benefit for people?

All MSPs in the Parliament have a role in highlighting the issue to promote take-up. I agree that the schemes can make a real difference to those who are entitled to access them.

In March 2022, the Child Poverty Action Group reported that free bus travel can save a total of

“£3,000 in the lifetime cost of a child in Scotland”.

In spring 2023, Transport Scotland co-funded and delivered a successful national marketing campaign with the Confederation of Passenger Transport and bus operators to encourage people to return to bus or to use it for the first time. The campaign had a considerable reach at that time, and the number of concessionary journeys by older and disabled people increased by 5.8 per cent during the campaign.

Although we can have such campaigns and spend more than £300 million on such schemes, it is important that eligible disabled people, as the member mentioned, and everyone else who is eligible take up free concessionary bus travel.