Municipal Bus Ownership

That the Parliament notes the publication of the responses to the consultation, Implementing Part 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019: Bus Services; further notes that a key provision in the Act is to give local transport authorities (LTAs) the power to establish and run local bus services; understands that a key theme across the responses was the need for the Scottish Ministers and Transport Scotland to provide financial and practical support to local authorities in order to implement this provision successfully; further understands from the publication that a significant number of respondents expressed a negative view towards Bus Service Improvement Partnerships (BSIPs), and took the view that they would maintain the perceived failed policy of bus deregulation and would not address issues such as high fares and lack of services to perceived underserved areas; understands that forming a BSIP with private operators is a condition to receiving support via the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund; notes the view expressed by trade unions and campaigners that this funding stream coerces local authorities into the partnership model; further notes the view that equivalent levels of funding should be made available to local authorities that wish to pursue municipally owned or franchising models; notes the 2019 Transport Focus survey, which reportedly found that the municipally-owned company, Lothian Buses, was considered by passengers to be the best value-for-money service in Scotland, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to provide the necessary funding and support to enable local authorities to replicate this model with a view to reversing the reported falling passenger numbers, cutting fare costs and providing a world-class service.