Chamber and committees

We are currently working with stakeholders with a view to introducing a time-limited local pilot of free bus travel for modern apprentices later this financial year, following which we will decide whether or not to extend the scheme nationally.

The £500 million will be invested in improved bus priority infrastructure to tackle the negative impacts of congestion on bus services.

We are currently awaiting State Aid approval for a new capital fund for green buses developed in consultation with the bus industry. It remains our intention to launch the fund this financial year.

The Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit Programme will continue in 2019-20. This third round of retrofit funding is offering £8.857 million for the bus and coach industry.

Transport Scotland is working with stakeholders to consider an extension to discounts available on public transport to those under the age of 26. This review will incorporate an appraisal of options and a cost- benefit analysis, as any changes to concessionary travel schemes must fully consider financial sustainability.

The scope of the review includes the following:

• consideration of options to extend discounts on public transport to those under the age of 26, including free bus travel;
• an appraisal which considers the costs and benefits of the options.
• exploring more broadly how all areas of transport, including travel concession schemes, can best support the delivery of the child poverty reduction targets.

The first phase of this work is to develop a robust evidence base informing the review including areas of further research which will help determine the benefits. We will report on progress as part of the annual Child Poverty Action Plan progress reports with the next due in spring 2020.

We aim to extend the scheme to provide free bus travel to those accompanying eligible disabled children under age five during the coming financial year, 2020-21.

The funding model for the Learning Estate Investment Programme was agreed with COSLA leaders on 30 August. In addition, the first phase of projects to benefit from the Programme was announced on 9 September by the First Minister, Councillor Macgregor and I.

On 9 September, the First Minister, Councillor Macgregor and I launched the Learning Estate Strategy at Peterhead Academy.

The Root Cause Analysis review is complete and the report is currently being finalised with Dumfries and Galloway Council and other stakeholders. We expect that process to be complete in the coming weeks, after which Scottish Futures Trust will publish the report along with lessons learned to be taken forward.

Dumfries and Galloway Council did not put forward a priority project to be considered as part of the first phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The Council advised that it is reviewing its estate as a whole to understand where investment should next be directed.

A second phase of the programme will be announced within 12 months and we look forward to continuing to work with the Council on which projects within Phase 2 of Dumfries Learning Town may be suitable for consideration.

As I set out during my parliamentary statement on 9 January 2019, the Government is progressing the development of a fox hunting Bill. Introduction of a Bill in this parliamentary session is subject to final decisions on the content of the Government’s next legislative programme and the extensive and wide-reaching impact of Brexit.