Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 2 May 2024.
Clare Adamson
Scottish National Party
2:30,
2 May 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to encourage constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw to use public transport. (S6O-03376)
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government is committed to sustainable travel and is investing more than £2.5 billion in this financial year to support public transport. We demonstrated that commitment through our peak fare removal pilot, which helps rail passengers across Scotland, including those in Clare Adamson’s Constituency, by keeping fares affordable during this time of cost of living challenge.
We are also providing more than £350 million of support through our concessionary travel schemes, which allow free bus travel for young people under the age of 22, disabled people and everyone aged 60 and over. In North Lanarkshire, more than 130,000 concessionary travel card holders benefit from free bus travel and made more than 700,000 journeys using the schemes in March alone.
With delivery partners, we have jointly invested £14.5 million in the Motherwell hub to allow residents in the Motherwell area to enjoy a vastly improved transport hub that greatly and truly encourages seamless and integrated end-to-end journeys.
Clare Adamson
Scottish National Party
Convenient and accessible bus travel is essential for my constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw and for our environment. I have serious concerns over North Lanarkshire Council’s decision to drastically cut school transport, the implications of that decision for child safety, and the wider potential impact on the local bus network, given that many of those pupils will have concessionary bus passes. Has the Scottish Government engaged in discussions with the local authority on the impacts that that decision could have on commuters who are reliant on public transport and on pupils in North Lanarkshire?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
Decisions about the provision of home-to-school transport services rest with local authorities. In 2024-25, North Lanarkshire Council will receive £824.2 million to fund local services. Compared with the 2023-24 budget, that equates to an extra £44.5 million—an additional 5.7 per cent—to support vital day-to-day services.
I am aware of the public’s concerns about the changes to eligibility for free school transport in North Lanarkshire. I have agreed to meet Monica Lennon, who raised the issue in the chamber, and the families concerned, to discuss the interaction between the young persons free bus travel scheme and school transport in Lanarkshire.
Martin Whitfield
Labour
Convenient and available bus travel is a requirement and a need not just in Motherwell and Wishaw but across the whole of Scotland.
In East Lothian, in South Scotland, Prentice Coaches Ltd has contacted me about the Scottish Government—rightly—requiring a fair work policy before considering payment of the network support grant. Prentice Coaches Ltd has paid the real living wage for a significant number of years, but its accreditation dates from September 2023 and Transport Scotland refuses to accept that for a bid for 24 October onwards. Given that that accreditation is live, it seems ridiculous to prevent a very successful company from applying for a network support grant to increase public transport to our constituents.
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
I had not heard or seen anything about that issue, but I will speak to officials and get back to Martin Whitfield with an answer in writing.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
Due to the relevant member’s absence from the chamber earlier in portfolio Question Time, I am minded not to take question 6. I expect an explanation and an apology for that absence.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
