Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17147, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on the Scottish Youth Parliament’s work on transpor...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

It is a real honour to open this important members’ business debate on the contribution of the Scottish Youth Parliament to our evolving transport system. I ...

Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing this important debate to the chamber, and I congratulate the Scottish Youth Parliament on its work. The local representativ...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

I extend my thanks to Sarah Boyack for securing the motion for debate in the chamber and congratulate the Scottish Youth Parliament on its work, which is abo...

Alasdair Allan SNP

I agree entirely with what the member has said about the need to tackle antisocial behaviour and the problem that it causes on transport. However, I am sure ...

Sue Webber Con

Lothian Buses has done an awful lot of study and data analysis—it is the only bus company to have done that—and its research shows a direct correlation betwe...

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

Will the member take an intervention?

Sue Webber Con

With due respect, Mr Ruskell, I have only 30 seconds left and I have tons to say. I have no doubt that the removal of the free bus pass for under-22s would ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Do not do that.

Sue Webber Con

Right now, there is a great opportunity to allow our young people and their voices to influence our transport for the future, and I am delighted that the deb...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank Sarah Boyack for securing the debate on what is an incredibly important motion in a week when we are joined by MSYPs in the gallery for today’s...

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

I join others in thanking Sarah Boyack for her motion and the Scottish Youth Parliament for its excellent manifesto. I was struck by the amount of work that ...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing the debate to the chamber. Throughout her time in the Parliament, she has long been a champion of affordable, accessible an...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform) Reform

I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing the debate to the chamber. The background to it was a great piece of collaboration between the cross-party group on sustain...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Ind

I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in the debate, and I thank Sarah Boyack for raising the topic. I, too, am a member of the cross-party group on su...

Graham Simpson Reform

How old were you?

John Mason Ind

Pass. However, times have moved on, and I saw hardly anyone hitching when I drove in the Highlands and Islands this summer. As for some of the specifics in...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I invite Jim Fairlie to respond to the debate. You have around seven minutes, minister. 13:24

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie) SNP

Members can see from the papers scattered in front of me that I want to get through a whole load of things, but I think that time will be absolutely against ...

Sarah Boyack Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Jim Fairlie SNP

I will just finish this one point. As someone who lives in a rural constituency, I am acutely aware of the problems facing rural Scotland. I am, therefore, ...

Sarah Boyack Lab

A key issue for local authorities is having the capacity to use the legislation that we in the Parliament have supported. We have been seeing these issues fo...

Jim Fairlie SNP

I take on board Sarah Boyack’s point. That is the whole point of the legislation. It does not have to involve a one-size-fits-all approach—there is a range o...

Mark Ruskell Green

One thing that the Government has committed to and which is very welcome is a trial introduction of capped bus fares. Will the Government consider how that w...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back, minister.

Jim Fairlie SNP

We are considering capped fares, and we are still working up where that pilot will be. A number of members across the Parliament have been asking for it to b...