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 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 to them. In the interests of time, I will speak only to the three amendments in my name in the group: amendments 33, 34 and 203. In essence, amendment 33 provides for an exemption to allow emergency services to enter and exit low-emission zones without incurring fees. The amendment proposes that we exempt police who enter the zones for official purposes, ambulances that are carrying out their functions, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Her Majesty’s Coastguard. 10:00 The wording of amendment 33 has been taken almost verbatim from another part of the bill. I feel that the exemptions that are offered and enjoyed in relation to pavement parking in part 4 of the bill should be enjoyed by the same bodies in section 1. I hope that the minister will find that request to be reasonable. It seems to be only reasonable to allow those types of vehicles an exemption in order to allow them to enter zones as required. It is hoped that, in time, they will operate fully compliant fleets, but I hope that amendment 33 gives them some comfort, until they do. Amendment 34 might strike some people as odd, but I will explain to the minister and the committee why I would include an exemption for diplomatic vehicles. Members might be aware that when the congestion charge was introduced in London, foreign diplomats argued that it was a tax and that, therefore, under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, they were exempt from paying it. The authority believed that it was a charge and that diplomats should have to pay for entering the zone. As of May 2019, it is estimated that £116 million is owed in unpaid fees. That has resulted in a lengthy, often amusing and, at times, public dispute, which has caused quite substantial legal costs for the public authority concerned. In order to avoid such a dispute occurring north of the border, we should simply decide whether diplomatic vehicles should be excluded from the emissions zones. I have no preference or view, but I have lodged amendment 34 to ensure that we settle the matter by making it clear whether they are in or out.
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...