Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-02426, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on protecting rural bus services. The debate will ...

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green

I thank members from across the chamber who have signed my motion to secure the debate, and I look forward to everyone’s contributions and the minister’s res...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I gently remind anybody who wants to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak button now. 18:12

Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

Thank you for the little reminder earlier, Presiding Officer. I congratulate Mark Ruskell on, and thank him for, securing this members’ business debate. Ac...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The importance of local bus services, which can be a lifeline for rural communities, cannot be overestimated. Mark Ruskell’s motion acknowledges that rural c...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank Mark Ruskell for his motion and the opportunity to discuss the importance of our bus services. There is no doubt that Scotland’s diminishing bus netw...

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

I thank my colleague Mark Ruskell for securing this important and timely debate. I am speaking this evening on behalf of Ariane Burgess, who, like other memb...

Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Mark Ruskell on securing the debate. Public transport, particularly green public transport, is a subject close to his heart. I am sure that he...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Is there not an argument that, instead of taxpayers providing free bus travel for people in urban areas—that is where most of the funding will go to provide ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Mr Fairlie, I can give you the time back for Mr Carson’s speech.

Jim Fairlie SNP

I would say to Mr Carson that I absolutely support the under-21s scheme because it is a part of the system that will get young users on to buses. We are goin...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I add my thanks to Mark Ruskell for bringing this important issue to the chamber. I also welcome the acknowledgment from the minister at last week’s portfoli...

The Minister for Transport (Graeme Dey) SNP

I thank Mark Ruskell for lodging the motion, and I thank members across the chamber who have made contributions highlighting the vital role that bus services...

Mark Ruskell Green

The minister has described the enormous sum of money that has been invested in the bus industry in recent years, but is there not a case for some conditional...

Graeme Dey SNP

I will deal with conditionality in a moment, but the member has made a good point. Indeed, I have made that same point to bus providers, about what seems to ...

Colin Smyth Lab

The minister will know that the overwhelming majority of bus services in rural areas are subsidised though council support for bus companies. What does he th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Minister, I will give you time back for that and for the earlier intervention.

Graeme Dey SNP

Thank you. It is regrettable that every contribution from Colin Smyth in the chamber comes down to being anti-Scottish National Party, anti-Scottish Governm...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Thank you, minister. That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:48.