Meeting of the Parliament 17 April 2018
Air is something that we cannot ignore. It is the very thing that is keeping us alive, which makes the quality of our air all the more important. I am grateful to see members on all sides of the chamber taking the debate so seriously.
I was pleased to see in the committee report that some progress has been made through efforts to improve air quality, but I share the concerns of my fellow Scottish Conservatives about the Scottish Government’s long-term approach and implementation. I represent the rural constituency of Aberdeenshire West. I know that we probably take air quality for granted there, given the abundance of lichen on trees, which is—for those who are unaware of it—a useful indicator of air quality, but we still need to do our bit to assist Scotland, the United Kingdom and our planet.
One step that we can take is to improve public transport. However, constituents of mine increasingly find that bus routes are being shortened and that services are being reduced or even cancelled. If we are to bring about a society that is aiming to reduce our carbon emissions, we need to work with our communities and with transport companies to ensure that we provide to residents services that they will use. With bus-fleet numbers having fallen by 11 per cent over the past five years, and passenger numbers having fallen by 16 per cent from a peak in 2007-08, I fear that we are not achieving that.
To add to that, the bus industry has concerns about the introduction of low-emission zones. If they are introduced without sufficient lead-in times, firms will be forced to withdraw services or dramatically to increase fares in order to get their fleets to achieve standards and maintain current service levels. Although rural areas are unlikely be registered as LEZs, I have no doubt that rural residents will pay to cover costs indirectly through increased bus fares.
Members will be aware that both the UK Government and the Scottish Government have a commitment to phasing out petrol and diesel cars, which is very much to be welcomed. With a move to electric vehicles coming into force, there is the much bigger issue of considering the national grid’s ability to support the surge in electricity use. I have met various energy stakeholders over my two years as an MSP, and although all of them are very much on board with the switch to cleaner energy consumption, there is a big concern about how we can facilitate that use purely through renewable energy. I therefore encourage the cabinet secretary to ensure that the Government works with energy suppliers in Scotland and the UK, so that we can achieve a national grid that is able to withstand the demands that will be placed on it.
It will be counterproductive for us to push for a move to electric vehicles if it means our having to rely on oil and gas to facilitate their use. There is a delicate and complex balance to be struck, but it is one that I know we can achieve through proper consultation of stakeholders. The move to electric vehicles does not require just people trading in their vehicles for cleaner modes of transport; we also need to build our infrastructure.
In our 2017 policy paper, “Global Challenge, Local Leadership”, the Scottish Conservatives outlined the need to establish funds to expand electric-vehicle charging points in small towns, rural areas and train stations; for electric-vehicle sharing schemes in major cities, whereby users can pick up and drop off cars at charging stations; for a requirement on all public bodies to conduct a cost benefit analysis of replacing their existing vehicle fleets with electric vehicles; and for mandating consideration of electric vehicles in their future procurement plans.
I am sure that all members will accept that, in order to sustain a cleaner transport system, proper infrastructure is required. Our policies are bold and require long-term investment, but if we do not act we will not be able to improve our air quality for future generations. We all know that action is required now.
I look forward to the Scottish Government considering our proposals and working with the whole Parliament to achieve a cleaner and greener system that will improve not only our air quality, but our environment.
16:30