A steep drop in the number of bus routes across Scotland risks making the free pass just a “piece of plastic”, Labour has warned.
More than 1,400 routes have been axed by private operators since the SNP first came to power in 2007. Labour blamed the Scottish Government for failing to move fast enough to allow councils to bring bus services back under public control.
Anas Sarwar’s party said today said it had “unwavering support” for the bus pass – which was introduced for older and disabled Scots by a Scottish Labour-led government and subsequently extended to young people.
Two Labour MSPs have now written to transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop to urge the SNP to act before more lifeline bus routes are lost.
The Record previously reported how some 190 bus routes were cut within the last year alone – a decrease of 10 per cent.
In 2019 the Scottish Parliament passed legislation giving local authorities the power to set up franchises. But the Scottish Government said it will not produce the regulations and guidance needed to use these powers until 2025.
Claire Baker, the party’s transport spokeswoman, said: “Scottish Labour is steadfastly committed to maintaining the free bus pass, but we need to make sure there are services to use them on.
“The SNP has stood idly by while bus routes disappeared and communities were cut off. In order to make sure Scots can benefit from the bus pass for years to come, the SNP must set out a plan to end this decline and rebuild Scotland’s bus network.”
Sarah Boyack, the party’s net zero spokeswoman, said: “It was a Scottish Labour government that first introduced the bus pass and our commitment to it remains unwavering.
“A strong bus network is not only good for people, but it is vital for our economy and our climate goals.
“Under the SNP, Scotland’s bus network has declined and hundreds of routes have been lost.
“A Scottish Labour government would work with local government to ensure Scotland has the bus network it needs, but we cannot afford another year of SNP failure – the government must act now.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have delivered all the bus powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local transport authorities to consider all the powers available to them, including partnership working, franchising and local authority run services which sit alongside their ability to subsidise services.
“The bus provisions in the 2019 Act empower local transport authorities with the flexible tools they need to respond to their own transport challenges. We welcome SPT’s decision to explore all available bus powers as part of their Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy.
“We encourage all local transport authorities to consider the full range of tools available to them under the 2019 Act, to ensure that everyone has accessible public transport regardless of where they are in Scotland.”
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