Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 June 2024
06 Jun 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Rail Fares
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, however much information the assessment, or a final report, can currently give us, it will be an assessment only of the effect of the temporary nature of the pilot? If we want people to make changes to their travel patterns, they need to have confidence that those prices will not be increased again, which would throw them back into confusion or cost them more money. If we want to see the benefit of the impact that this change can make, permanence will give people that confidence.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-13270, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on permanently ending peak rail fares on ScotRail. ...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I thank members for signing the motion, and I thank those who have stayed to debate it.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Please resume your seat Mr Ruskell. I ask those leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly and quietly as possible. Mr Ruskell, please resume.
Mark Ruskell
Green
They may be running for their trains. Last Wednesday, I was delighted to join passengers on the first train to Leven and Cameron Bridge since 1969. The Cabi...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Mark Ruskell talks about investment. Does he or anyone else know what the cost of the off-peak rail fare pilot is or is likely to be? That will be a factor i...
Mark Ruskell
Green
John Mason makes a good point. There was an allocation in this year’s budget, but it is, of course, a changing picture. It depends on how many people get bac...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 12:55
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate, and I congratulate Mark Ruskell on securing it. I will keep my contribution brief. The removal of the peak...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Mark Ruskell on securing the debate. I was very happy to sign his motion, because I agree with every word of it. The removal of peak fares on...
Graham Simpson
Con
I see that Mr Ruskell wants to make an intervention, and I am happy to take it.
Mark Ruskell
Green
I am enjoying hearing Graham Simpson’s not just acceptance but enthusiasm for green policies, but I am interested in what his views are on demand management....
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Begin winding up, please.
Graham Simpson
Con
I will close by answering that point. My view is that I am more of a carrots man than a sticks man. The kind of proposal that Mark Ruskell has come up wit...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate and to Mark Ruskell for lodging the motion. As an MSP and Scottish Labour’s transport spokesperson, ...
Mark Ruskell
Green
I thank Alex Rowley for his mention of the unions. I met the four unions again on Monday. They told me that, from the perspective of workers, the scheme has ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I will give you the time back, Mr Rowley.
Alex Rowley
Lab
As well as speaking to rail unions, from speaking to rail workers when using the trains, and from speaking to passengers, it is clear that the policy is posi...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
As other members have done, I thank Mark Ruskell for giving us the opportunity to debate the policy today. I am proud that the Scottish Greens were able to s...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests, and I thank Mark Ruskell for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Let me start...
Ross Greer
Green
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Richard Leonard quite rightly referred to his entry in the register of members’ interests, which made me realise that...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Mr Greer. That is now on the record. I invite Fiona Hyslop to respond to the debate. 13:20
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I thank Mark Ruskell for lodging the motion and all members for their contributions. I, too, recognise the role of trade unions in calling for this policy, a...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Does the cabinet secretary agree that, however much information the assessment, or a final report, can currently give us, it will be an assessment only of th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Cabinet secretary, I can give you the time back.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Patrick Harvie makes a reasonable point. As he knows, it was after the Bute house agreement ended that I took the decision, along with colleagues, to extend ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
That concludes the debate. 13:28 Meeting suspended. 14:00 On resuming—