Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 September 2012
26 Sep 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Green Bus Fund
As I said, we are asking for an honest debate about how we fund what we see as desirable priorities. That is the whole issue, and you have consistently run away from it since you came into office.
We welcome the investment in green buses. We will support the Tory amendment, unless Mr Johnstone says something totally outrageous during the debate and, although the Government will undoubtedly turn down our amendment, we are even prepared to support your motion because it is valid to say that green buses are a valuable investment. We should not be self-congratulatory and say how wonderful everything is in the garden. We need to appreciate that there are difficult choices to be made and we need to be grown up enough to have an honest debate about them.
We welcome the investment in green buses. We will support the Tory amendment, unless Mr Johnstone says something totally outrageous during the debate and, although the Government will undoubtedly turn down our amendment, we are even prepared to support your motion because it is valid to say that green buses are a valuable investment. We should not be self-congratulatory and say how wonderful everything is in the garden. We need to appreciate that there are difficult choices to be made and we need to be grown up enough to have an honest debate about them.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04247, in the name of Keith Brown, on the green bus fund. I invite members who wish to speak in the debat...
The Minister for Transport and Veteran Affairs (Keith Brown)
SNP
The Government is committed, as its main purpose, to creating a more successful country, with opportunities for everybody to flourish through increasing sust...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I recognise the benefits that the minister has outlined, but is there not a danger that the approach simply gives opportunities for the bigger bus companies ...
Keith Brown
SNP
That is a fair concern, but the way in which the green bus fund has been distributed so far shows the benefit to small companies rather than the bigger ones ...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I am sorry that the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities is not here, as I wanted to welcome her formally to her new post. That pleasu...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
In the spirit of honesty and hard choices that I know that Labour is espousing, will Elaine Murray therefore advise which budget she would reduce in order to...
Elaine Murray
Lab
We rehearsed the EGIP issue last week and I said at the time that it was about Network Rail borrowing and not part of the capital budget. I will not make up ...
Elaine Murray
Lab
It is true.I will move on to concessionary bus fares and again I will tell you about the fears of bus service operators. They are concerned because, last yea...
Keith Brown
SNP
We have representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport in the gallery and the member should be aware that we are in discussion with it on that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
You are in your final minute, Ms Murray.
Elaine Murray
Lab
As I said, we are asking for an honest debate about how we fund what we see as desirable priorities. That is the whole issue, and you have consistently run a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before I call Alex Johnstone, I ask Elaine Murray to move her amendment.
Elaine Murray
Lab
I move amendment S4M-04247.2, to insert at end:“; notes the concerns expressed by bus service operators, passengers and trade unions regarding the Scottish G...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I also ask members to remember to speak through the chair, please.15:07
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
When I first saw the motion I thought that the debate would be fairly anodyne. However, we have already seen that there are things to be said and I congratul...
Keith Brown
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
I am afraid that I am in my final minute, but I hope that that discussion will progress.It is the case that, in principle, everyone in the chamber supports i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate.15:13
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
SNP
Even for someone who is a climate change doubter, creating a cleaner and healthier environment for ourselves and our children must be a commendable goal. Lik...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I advise members that they have six minutes for their speeches, but there is a wee bit of time in hand if members wish to take interventions.15:19
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The green bus fund is a welcome initiative. Of course, as Elaine Murray outlined, Labour initially called for it some years ago. Low-carbon buses, which the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I must ask you to come to a conclusion, Mr Gray.
Iain Gray
Lab
The truth is that low-emission buses are a good thing. However, if they are to serve more, not fewer, passengers, the time has come to go back to the kind of...
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
I am glad to get up and speak in the debate, even though I have just lost half my speech. As I am used to speaking in quite controversial and combative debat...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
As a non-driver and regular bus user, I am in the same position as Mr Biagi. Unfortunately, most of my bus journeys are in Aberdeen and, instead of the £1.40...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the green bus initiative. Any investment—no matter how big or small—in public transport is welcome. I also welcome the sentiments behind the invest...
Keith Brown
SNP
It might repay the member to look at the figures. The amount for concessionary travel has substantially increased year on year and will increase again next y...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I have looked at the figures, which decrease from £255 million in 2011-12 to £248 million, £242 million next year and £236 million in 2015.
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
If that is the case, will the member explain why his party leader said yesterday that, in the budget,“spending on concessionary fares increased by 19%”?
Neil Findlay
Lab
I have taken my information from the Scottish Parliament information centre, so the member can argue with it.We should not forget that the investment in gree...