29 August 2013
Draft Budget Evidence Submitted to Finance Committee
Transform Scotland has submitted its evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee in response to its call for evidence on the Draft Budget 2014-2015.
Transform Scotland believes that the Scottish Government's current expenditure priorities are not well-directed in terms of traffic congestion, reducing climate emissions or increasing expenditure on sustainable transport modes.
Over the past five years, spending on roads has increased by almost 40%, however expenditure on sustainable transport modes (walk, cycle, bus, rail, ferry) has largely remained unchanged and in the case of buses, the largest transport mode, decreasing.
Scotland should be established as a centre of excellence in sustainable technology for public transport. Scotland has Britain's largest bus manufacturer in Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis Limited, and also features two of the world's largest public transport operators in FirstGroup and Stagecoach. The Scottish Government's Low Carbon Vehicles (LCVs) policy should build on this home-grown experience and take the lead in developing sustainable automotive technology for all forms of public transport.
Transform Scotland believes that the scottish Government's expenditure plans should focus on assisting investment by small-scale, local, Scottish companies and public bodies. Making road maintenance the focus of the Government's roads policy rather than building new roads, would have a greater impact in supporting Scottish companies and public bodies. Not only would this provide employment opportunities to the Scottish construction industry in the long run but it would benefit pedestrians, cyclists and bus users as well as private car users.
See the right hand column for the full evidence report