Decarbonising Transport

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 23 June 2021.

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Photo of Natasha Asghar Natasha Asghar Conservative 2:16, 23 June 2021

Thank you, Minister. From 2013 to 2014, Wales replaced the bus services operating grant with the bus services support grant, with funding set at £25 million. This fixed pot of £25 million has not changed since the BSSG's inception, with 10 per cent top-sliced for community transport and a further £100,000 top-sliced as the operators' contribution to running Traveline Cymru, leaving £22.4 million net for local registered bus services in Wales. In contrast, the Scottish Government's bus service operators grant comprises of a core payment and an incentive for the operation of green, environmentally friendly buses. The core payment aims to support operators to keep fares at affordable levels, and networks are more extensive than would otherwise be the case. And the green incentive helps with the additional running costs of low-emission buses, to support their key uptake by operators. I'd like to know, Minister, what discussions have you had with the Minister for Climate Change to provide an incentive through the bus services operating grant to bus companies in Wales to decarbonise their vehicle stock.