Chamber and committees

We now come to questions from Graham Simpson.

There appear to be no more questions. We will move on to our next agenda item, which is consideration of motion S6M-15035, to recommend that the Local Services Franchises (Traffic Commissioner Notices and Panels) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 be annulled. Douglas Lumsden, do you intend to move the motion?

Thank you.

Therefore, I remind everyone that Scottish Government officials cannot take part in the formal debate. I invite Douglas Lumsden to speak to and move the motion. After that, other members may contribute, followed by the minister, then Douglas will wind up the debate and press or seek to withdraw his motion. Obviously, brief interventions can be taken at the discretion of whoever is speaking.

Your officials can slide you a bit of paper with the dates on it if you want.

I am looking for members to contribute. I have Mark Ruskell first, followed by Bob Doris.

Monica Lennon is the only other person who indicated that they wish to speak. I will go to her, then I will make a comment before we come to the minister.

Can you not change a section of an act through primary legislation? It looks as if Bridget Bryden wants to help me out—I might have got this confused.

There were a lot of amendments to the 2019 act—I seem to remember sitting in the committee and dealing with more than 100 amendments on the workplace parking levy alone—so the fact that this was a failed system might have gone slightly under the radar. How long would it take the Government, if it were so minded, to bring forward primary legislation to change this very minor part of the 2019 act? I think that we are talking about section 38.

Good morning, and welcome to the 31st meeting in 2024 of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. The first agenda item for consideration is evidence on the Local Services Franchises (Traffic Commissioner Notices and Panels) (Scotland) Regulations 2024. The instrument is subject to the negative procedure, which means that it will become law unless it is annulled.

We first considered the instrument on 8 October, when we noted concerns that had been raised about bus franchising panels and we agreed to seek further evidence. Because of the limited time, we wrote to five organisations and individuals, including the Scottish Government, and I thank them all for writing back. Their responses are included in the papers.

Douglas Lumsden has lodged a motion to annul the instrument. Before we have the formal debate on the motion, we will have an evidence session with the minister and his officials that will give us an opportunity to ask questions or seek clarification on the basis of the evidence that we have received. For the record, given the interest in the item and in our provision of local bus services, I state that I had already asked the Scottish Government to give evidence before Douglas Lumsden lodged his motion.

I welcome Jim Fairlie, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity; Sharon Wood, bus policy manager for Transport Scotland; Kevin Gibson, a lawyer for the Scottish Government; and Bridget Bryden, bus regulatory policy team leader for Transport Scotland—that is a snappy title. Thank you very much for joining us. I will give the minister a few minutes to make a brief opening statement.

Committee members have a lot of questions. I will bring in Mark Ruskell first, to be followed by Douglas Lumsden and Monica Lennon.