Committee
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee 05 June 2019
05 Jun 2019 · S5 · Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Item of business
Transport (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I thank members for their comments and for the spirit in which their feedback was given. The purpose of amendment 32 was not to be overly prescriptive and unhelpful, although I accept that my approach is prescriptive in that there are a number of other ways in which air quality can be measured. The point that I am trying to make, which I hope the cabinet secretary will pick up on, is that the purpose of a low-emission zone should be directly linked to air quality. It is interesting that the cabinet secretary said that a local authority might have other reasons for setting up a zone, such as managing congestion. If that is the case, the local authority should look at the measures that are best suited to its objectives, such as congestion charging, parking levies and other forms of management of traffic flow and volume in city centres. From day 1, I have thought that the purpose of a low-emission zone is to improve air quality in the cities or zones in which they operate. The point of amendment 32, albeit that the wording is perhaps misguided, was to ensure that we put something measurable in the bill—because, if nothing is measurable, we will never know whether the zones have succeeded. It is not about how much money a zone raises or how many fewer cars there are in the cities and their average speed; it is about improving air quality. If the Government is willing to work with the members who lodged amendments because they take the view that the bill should contain a provision that allows us to reflect on the purpose of the zone and send the public the message that the purpose is to improve air quality in the cities in which they live, I am sure that we will be happy to work with the Government. The provision that is buried away in section 9, on page 5, which requires one of the objectives to include a reference to another piece of legislation, is not strong enough. I hope that the Government will reflect on that. On that basis I will not press amendment 32. Amendment 32, by agreement, withdrawn.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
Agenda item 2 is consideration of stage 2 amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Con...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 40, in the name of Colin Smyth, is in a group on its own.
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Amendment 40 sets out key principles that I believe should be at the heart of our transport system. The Transport (Scotland) Bill provides an opportunity to ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I have a number of comments about the way in which this amendment is constructed. Subsection (2)(a) says: “transport is a key enabler for the realisation of...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank Colin Smyth for lodging his amendment. It is a good start to the session. There are some admirable intentions in the wording. Delivering public tr...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
Like others, I think that the principles are admirable and I support them. I listened to what Mr Stevenson said, but that would not preclude support—or clari...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity (Michael Matheson)
SNP
I welcome the fact that Mr Smyth’s amendment looks at transport in its wider strategic context, because it is easy to get bogged down in the detail of legisl...
The Convener
Con
Thank you for that comprehensive explanation.
Colin Smyth
Lab
As a nation, I think that we have lost sight of the bigger picture of what our transport system should be about, as was mentioned. In particular, there is th...
The Convener
Con
Amendment 32, in the name of Jamie Greene, is grouped with amendments 220 and 201.
Jamie Greene
Con
In relation to low-emission zones, I want to add from the outset a primary objective that sets out a clear purpose that each zone should follow. Amendment 32...
Colin Smyth
Lab
Amendment 220, in my name, introduces a definition of the purpose of an LEZ, which was one of the committee’s recommendations at stage 1. Amendment 220 helps...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Like Colin Smyth, I think that the omission of the PM10 particles from Jamie Greene’s amendment 32 is quite serious. I had a quick look at the legislation th...
John Finnie
Green
Jamie Greene’s amendment 32 is the first of a series of amendments that, despite his apparent enthusiasm for low-emission zones, dilute the purpose of the bi...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Amendments 32, 220 and 201 call for the purpose of an LEZ to be included in the bill. In my view, the amendments are too restrictive. Amendment 32 would set ...
Jamie Greene
Con
I thank members for their comments and for the spirit in which their feedback was given. The purpose of amendment 32 was not to be overly prescriptive and u...
Colin Smyth
Lab
In the light of the cabinet secretary’s commitment to work on the wording of a potential amendment at stage 3, I will not move amendment 220. Amendment 220 ...
The Convener
Con
The next group is on low-emission zones: exemptions. Amendment 221, in the name of Rachael Hamilton, is grouped with amendments 33, 34, 2, 30, 31, 203, 56, 5...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I recognise the importance of low-emission zones and the purpose that they will strive to achieve in relation to air quality. However, community transport o...
Jamie Greene
Con
I will be happy to support Rachael Hamilton’s amendment 221 and amendments 30 and 31, in the name of Murdo Fraser—I am sure that Murdo will speak eloquently ...
John Finnie
Green
Jamie Greene says that he has no view one way or another, although he has lodged the amendment. Is that your position?
Jamie Greene
Con
Yes. Let me explain why. It is for the Government to take a view on whether diplomatic vehicles should be exempt from paying the fees. I am trying to ensure ...
Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
I declare that I am the convener of the cross-party group on the Scottish Showmen’s Guild. I support the introduction of low-emission zones in cities, towns...
The Convener
Con
Oh, well. There you go, Mr Lyle.
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Like other members, I support the principle of LEZs. My amendment 30 is intended to exempt historic vehicles from the rules on LEZs—a historic vehicle being ...
Michael Matheson
SNP
We heard a lot of views on proposed LEZ exemptions during stage 1, and there have been some interesting additional proposals made by members this morning. I ...
Richard Lyle
SNP
This provision might answer every call for an exemption, including mine. Under the heading, “Time-limited exemptions”, section 12 of the bill says: “A low e...
Michael Matheson
SNP
There is provision in the bill to allow a local authority to suspend the provisions of an LEZ for a particular event to take place. If there was to be a para...
Jamie Greene
Con
I am finding the discussion to be extremely helpful and useful. However, in relation to permanent exemptions, amendment 203 and time-limited exemptions, Mr L...
Michael Matheson
SNP
I can see where your confusion arises. It is because the exemptions will be dealt with by regulation. The work that we are currently undertaking will, rather...