Meeting of the Parliament 28 May 2024
I rise to request that, after the early finish this week, on Thursday 30 May, a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport regarding the imposition of a low-emission zone in Aberdeen from 1 June be inserted. I requested such a statement at the Parliamentary Bureau, but it was refused. I lodged a request for a topical question this afternoon, but I was not selected. I lodged a request for a question on the matter at First Minister’s questions on Thursday, but I was not selected.
The amendment is very much the last resort and, indeed, the last opportunity—hence, my request to Parliament today. The issue must be aired, because from this Saturday, a large area of central Aberdeen will be designated as a low-emission zone and non-compliant vehicles entering that area will be subject to a financial penalty.
Many people have argued that the extent and design of the scheme, and the area that it covers, must be rethought, and many suggest that it will discriminate against the likes of people of lesser means, the disabled and the unemployed. Many people suggest that, in the context of bus gates that were introduced in August 2023 having reportedly reduced city-centre footfall by around 0.5 million, businesses and the already struggling Union Street will be further hammered.
Perhaps most crucial, however, is that many people suggest that the data on which Aberdeen City Council based its decisions is years out of date. It fails to recognise that Aberdeen’s air quality has been below strict European standards for years, and it fails to account for the effects of far greater emitters that will not be ameliorated or impacted at all by the LEZ.
The reason why we need a statement on the matter is that Aberdeen City Council’s co-leader suggested that the Aberdeen LEZ is a direct imposition by the Scottish National Party Government and cannot be changed now. Last week, I was called to ask a supplementary question to another member’s portfolio question, and the transport secretary offered a different view. She said that
“flexibilities can be”
made
“depending on individual circumstances”,
and that
“it will be up to council leaders in”
those particular
“areas to decide for themselves what makes sense for their cities.”—[Official Report, 23 May 2024; c 48-49.]
That seems to be, to any observer, like a clear and unequivocal contradiction of the council’s position by the cabinet secretary.
Given the significance of the issue not only to Aberdeen but to many other cities in Scotland, it is imperative that the council be helped to understand that it does have flexibility and can rethink, if the data on emissions and necessity has changed. A statement from the cabinet secretary could clarify where the misunderstandings lie, what data should be used, what variation might be appropriate under the legislation and what the Government’s expectations of the council are in considering the likes of disabled people.
With an early finish on Thursday, MSPs will be in Parliament anyway and will no doubt be eager to hear that statement. Let me be clear: it must happen this week, before the imposition of the LEZ this Saturday.
I therefore ask Parliament to agree to the insertion of a statement on the Aberdeen LEZ by the transport secretary on Thursday at 4.30.
I move amendment S6M-13389.1, to leave out from third “delete” to end and insert:
“followed by Ministerial Statement: LEZ Implementation
after
5.00 pm Decision Time
insert
followed by Members’ Business”.
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.