Could I begin by thanking Jane Dodds for this short debate? Public transport is an issue close to my heart as well. Before I was elected to the Senedd, I delivered a petition with more than 3,500 signatures on it, which called for buses to be run for people not profit. These were all people that were really worried and concerned about losing their public bus transport. As chair of the cross-party group on public transport, I recently heard evidence on the need to improve marketing to encourage the use of public transport again, giving the public confidence to return to using buses and trains. Currently, 15 per cent of people expect they will use public transport less after the pandemic, and 23 per cent are undecided. As it stands, the use of private vehicles for many is an affordable and more efficient way to travel, meaning that to reach public transport targets serious changes will be required. Key actions for the recovery of the public transport sector include the need to reassure passengers.

A free travel card will encourage people to use public transport at a young age, giving them confidence that it is a normal and preferred way of travel as they go through to adulthood. Across Europe, we are beginning to see the benefits of free public transport, and from the end of this month in Scotland, anyone aged between five and 21 will be able to apply for a Young Scot card, which will allow them to travel by bus for free. In Tallinn in Estonia, all public transport is free for residents of the city, and in the French city of Dunkirk, free public transport led to reduced carbon emissions and helped to revitalise the former industrial port, with passenger numbers increasing by 60 per cent during the week. Public transport is absolutely vital to any serious attempt to tackle climate change. I welcome this debate, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the Senedd to bring about a transport system for the challenges of our future. Diolch.