Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, is the Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
During an evidence session with the Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP on Tuesday 28th February Ms Hyslop raised the issue of bus connectivity in West Lothian directly with the Minister.
Speaking after the session, Fiona commented:
“I welcome the Scottish Government’s Free Bus Pass for Under 22’s scheme and recognise the incredible benefits of this scheme for our young people but West Lothian has one of the lowest rates of uptake of the scheme.
“This may be due to better promotion and simpler schemes to apply by other Councils elsewhere but as my Constituency in West Lothian has many semi-rural communities with poor bus links across the County this will also be a disincentive to young people. While there are good east-west links, transport links going north-south in the Constituency are poor.
“I raised this with the Transport Minister in Committee this week and noted that ensuring good transport links may increase the uptake of this scheme by young people in my Constituency.
“We need to see links improved so that all young people in West Lothian can benefit from this great scheme for young people from the Scottish Government and I was pleased to hear the Minister agree to task officials to research the relationship of transport access to take up rates including areas like West Lothian in the evaluation Transport Scotland will conduct in April to ensure that there is an intuitive approach to the implementation of this policy.”
ENDS
Notes – link to the Official Report of this Committee meeting https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/search-what-was-said-in-parliament/NZET-28-02-2023?meeting=14175&iob=128383