John Swinney urged to provide clarity on flagship pledge to bring buses under 'public control'

John Swinney has been urged to provide clarity on his flagship pledge to bring Scotland’s bus network under public control by 2031. The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) said it “remains unclear” exactly what the First Minister meant by the promise. It came as a transport consultant warned franchising “is not a panacea” and would not address some of the fundamental problems facing buses. Mr Swinney vowed to bring the bus network back under public control during his speech to the SNP conference in Aberdeen last month.

He said this would be achieved through franchising and regulation. McGill's, the largest independent bus operator in Scotland, condemned the plan as “theft” and compared Mr Swinney to dictators Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe. In a written submission to MSPs on Holyrood’s transport committee, the CPT called for clarity over the announcement. "While CPT shares the ambition to improve bus services, the announcement raises questions about the government's intentions and how these relate to the existing legislative framework,” it said.

"It remains unclear what is meant by public control, whether franchising is now the government's preferred approach across Scotland, and what role or support is envisaged for statutory partnerships and other models of service delivery. "The announcement also appears to represent a change in emphasis from the government's earlier commitment to a programme of stakeholder engagement on potential Better Buses legislation, without a predetermined approach.

“CPT believes it is important that this engagement remains meaningful and that the full range of available options continues to be considered. "Clarity is particularly important for bus operators making long-term decisions about investment in vehicles, depots, workforce and services. Uncertainty about the future regulatory framework can affect planning and investment decisions, with potential implications for passengers and communities."

The CPT said it does not advocate a single model for the delivery of local bus services in Scotland. Last week, Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn confirmed he had “no intention of imposing a franchise on Lothian Buses”, which is Scotland’s only remaining municipally owned bus company. He has said further details of the government’s wider plans will be provided in the new year. The Association for Transport Co-ordinating Officers, which told MSPs it was reflecting the views of council officers working within Scottish transport authorities, said franchising was not regarded as a “universal remedy”.

It said the evidence does not support a single national delivery model. In a separate submission, Christopher Cheek, an experienced transport consultant, said franchising “is not a panacea”. He said: “It would not address some of the fundamental problems that the bus industry faces – most notably in traffic congestion and increasing costs – but would transfer significant amounts of risk from the private to the public sector, at a time when the combination of rising public debt and increased borrowing costs are already a serious problem.

“At present, the decision to move to a franchise marks the start of a long, complex and potentially expensive process with no guarantee of ultimate success. “The move involves making a range of decisions over governance, structure, contracts and risks which need careful consideration since they will have a decisive influence on the viability of the franchise, the quality and volume of services provided and profound effect on the franchising authority’s budget and eventually the potential cost to the taxpayer.”