Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 12 December 2024.
Gordon MacDonald
Scottish National Party
2:30,
12 December 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the bus industry to transfer to zero-emission technologies. (S6O-04120)
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
Since 2020, the Scottish Government has provided more than £150 million to decarbonise the bus sector. More than 800 zero-emission buses and coaches and their charging infrastructure have been supported. The funding includes £41 million in the most recent round of the Scottish zero-emission bus challenge fund, which draws in more than three times as much in private sector investment. The project will support more than 250 new zero-emission vehicles and the installation of 200 chargers across 20 depots, and it will establish the backbone of a pan-Scotland charging network that will be available to other large road vehicles. Since 2018, our bus emissions abatement retrofit scheme has awarded £24 million to retrofit more than 1,200 buses and coaches to support the bus industry in adapting to low-emission zones.
Gordon MacDonald
Scottish National Party
With electrification of the bus industry, how will that funding help to create a whole-Scotland network for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles?
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
As I set out in my original answer, our significant investment in charging infrastructure through ScotZEB 2 is providing electrified depots that can be used by other businesses across the country, where it is possible to do so. Opening the depots to other road users such as heavy goods vehicles can create beneficial new revenue streams for their owners and, at the same time, provide confidence to other fleets that charging can be made available to support operations that are making a transition to zero-emission alternatives. I hope to see even more shared charging infrastructure in the future.
Paul Sweeney
Labour
I am sure that the Cabinet secretary will agree that Alexander Dennis in Falkirk is one of the jewels in the crown of Scottish manufacturing, but it has cited increasingly unfair competition and subsidies from overseas manufacturers, such as those in China, as being responsible for its recent difficult decision to consult on 160 redundancies at its site in Falkirk. It has said that, of the 252 buses that are expected to be delivered through the Scottish Government zero-emission bus challenge fund, 80 per cent will likely be manufactured outside of the United Kingdom. Will the cabinet secretary agree to engage with Falkirk’s MP, Euan Stainbank, and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to resolve the issue with unfair procurement practices and ensure that more buses are built in Scotland?
Fiona Hyslop
Scottish National Party
I am disappointed to hear about the redundancies, because the Scottish Government has supported Alexander Dennis through our zero-emission fund. Alexander Dennis has secured orders for more than 360 buses, which is more vehicles than any other manufacturer has secured through our Scottish ultra-low-emission bus scheme and ScotZEB. As the member might be aware, Alexander Dennis might not currently manufacture the type of vehicles that are required, which is why it is important to support the company in developing for future markets.
The member’s point about the new UK Government is really important, because there are questions about its support for zero-emission buses and the potential orders that Alexander Dennis could get from its supporting scheme. He made a point about subsidy control, and we regularly engage with the UK Government on that issue.
Liam McArthur
Liberal Democrat
I apologise to members whom I was unable to call, but that concludes portfolio questions on net zero and energy, and transport.
There will be a short pause before we move to the next item of business to allow front-bench teams to change positions.
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.
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