Scottish Labour will use a Scottish Parliament debate to warn that SNP cuts to the Bus Service Operators Grant will force up bus fares and lead to services being cut.

Bus operators have been told that their grant is to be cut by 20% by the SNP government from April 2012.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport has warned that it could have “a far-reaching impact on many bus passengers” and lead to increased fares and cuts to local services.

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Transport Minister, Elaine Murray MSP, said:

"The SNP's 20% cut to the Bus Service Operators Grant means bus fares will increase across the country and services will be axed.

“People who depend on buses are often some of the least well off in our communities and it is them that will be hit hardest by the SNP’s budget cut. The SNP government say they want to act to protect the poorest in Scotland, but it is hard-pressed families who don't have cars and rely affordable bus services who will pay the price.
 
"Bus operators have left the SNP government in no doubt that the budget cut would lead to increased fares. It is simply not good enough for the SNP to say they would expect bus operators to 'behave responsibly' over this when operators were told so late in the day about changes to the operation of the scheme. 
 
"To compound these problems the SNP refuse to support Scottish Labour’s positive proposals to regulate the industry which would improve local services by making them more responsive to the needs of local people not the profits of big bus companies. This is despite the fact the SNP used to support bus re-regulation prior to receiving donations from Stagecoach owner Brian Souter." 

26 January 2012