Context
The MP seeks to increase bus services to meet net zero targets. He has raised concerns about inadequate timetables for workers at a local Asda store and poor disabled facilities on buses.
Question
What discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on increasing bus services in the highlands to help achieve the UK's net zero target? I live near an Asda store. Many of the people who work there, who are friends of mine, would like to use the local bus services to get to work, but the timetables do not work. Equally, I have people living in Caithness who are disabled, who would like to use the buses to Inverness more, but the disabled facilities are not what they should be. I have made representations to the Scottish Government and to the bus company, Stagecoach, but to no avail.
Answer from Grant Shapps
Responsibility for bus services is a devolved matter. My Department engages with the devolved Administrations, including in Scotland, on issues with bus services all the time. The hon. Gentleman is quite right that this is a devolved matter, but there are Barnett consequentials, so there is quite a lot of money coming through, particularly from the “Bus Back Better” plan. He is also right to be concerned, as I have been, about the level of bus services and threatened cuts across Scotland, including by First Bus in Glasgow and Stagecoach in Stirling.
Not addressed: Specific advice on how to sort out the wretched problem was not provided
How: This Is A Devolved Matter
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