7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Bus emergency scheme

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:45 pm on 22 March 2023.

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Photo of Natasha Asghar Natasha Asghar Conservative 5:45, 22 March 2023

No. You don't want to use public transport just to turn up late for work or to get up at some extremely early hour for your commute.

In my own region of south-east Wales, more than one in 10 bus journeys are not on time according to bus users, and this will no doubt increase with the roll-out of the 20 mph speed limits. As a result of these shameful figures, are we seeing huge investments in the bus service network? No, not anything. Instead, the Welsh Government believes the solution will be to make buses public again. But do we trust the Welsh Government to be up to the job? Not on this side of the Chamber, sadly. We've seen the botch job you've done over the NHS, the economy, so what's going to be different about bus services, going forward?

It's also laughable about the 20 mph speed limits that are going to be costing around about £30 million when that money could be invested into public transport. As ever, you seem to preside over a shocking waste of money on an issue that no-one is in favour of.

You're also about the decarbonisation of transport, and yet, the figures tell a different story. What's new here? Electric buses were introduced with great fanfare by the Deputy Minister in Carmarthen, but we're still here waiting for a Government-funded scheme on this, unlike Scotland and England, whose councils and operators have enjoyed assistance with the costs of green vehicles and infrastructure. Just two local authorities in Wales, as my colleague mentioned, Cardiff and Newport, have made great strides in this area, and while we see plans for extra buses that meet your own Government's criteria, we don't see any tangible support.

So, it is my pleasure to support Plaid Cymru's motion today. There are many things wrong with the Deputy Minister's stance on public transport. On the one hand, he tells us he's obviously going to be increasing our use of public transport, and on the other hand, he's putting roadblocks in our way. Thank you, Presiding Officer.