Meeting of the Parliament 30 April 2025
It is not a case of regretting what other ministers have done. I am standing here today as the minister who is contributing to the debate that has been brought before us.
I recognise that supporting electric car use contributes to Scotland’s connectivity, which benefits the economy, education, social mobility and leisure right across Scotland. We support meeting environmental challenges with regard to emissions. There is also a role for the United Kingdom Government, which could reduce the VAT rates that are paid on public charging points to 5 per cent to help to support an equitable and just transition for those who cannot charge electric vehicles at home.
Bus connectivity is being further enhanced by free bus travel for more than 2 million people in Scotland, which provides an alternative for those who can make the switch to public transport. Although I have noted the historical decline in buses, they still account for the vast majority of public transport journeys, with around 334 million journeys made annually. Responsibilities for local road provision and some local bus services lie with local transport authorities, which will be able to have more control through transport legislation that puts more power into their hands.
The low-emission zones that Sue Webber mentioned are key to improving air quality, protecting public health and encouraging more sustainable transport options, and they have been implemented in more than 320 cities across Europe. In Glasgow, where a low-emission zone has been in place since 2023, air quality benefits are already being accrued, as the average nitrogen dioxide levels in the zone are down by approximately 20 per cent compared with 2022.
The Scottish Government welcomes the independent role of the Scottish road works commissioner. However, we have concerns that the punctuality of bus services is being hampered by road works. I have met the road commissioner to discuss the concerns that have been raised by bus operators. I have also met the bus operators and I am meeting local authorities. I intend to continue that collective conversation so that we can find solutions. I will continue to engage collaboratively with the Scottish road works commissioner and the road works industry to find reasonable solutions to help in that area, which include incorporating bus data into the Scottish road works register and providing more consideration of bus services—