Question reference: S6W-19065
- Date lodged: 14 June 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 June 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18017 by Kevin Stewart on 25 May 2023, for what reason it has delayed the publication of the Fair Fares Review to the end of 2023, and whether it can provide assurance that the Fair Fares Review will be published by this new deadline.
Answer
The Fair Fares Review is progressing well, with work underway with stakeholders and delivery partners to explore the challenges and opportunities facing our public transport system. Also, developing and assessing potential options for change that ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to public transport fares that supports the long term viability of public transport in Scotland. This work will be supported by a broader programme of public engagement planned to commence later this summer.
It is vital that the Fair Fares Review is informed by the most robust and up-to-date evidence and accordingly the review will report by the end of this year in order to take cognisance of emerging evidence such as the Year 1 evaluation of the U22 free bus travel scheme and early findings from the removal of the Scotrail peak-time rail fares pilot. This report will recommend a package of measures that can be considered for implementation from 2024-25 onwards that provide opportunities to address the wider issues impacting on the cost and availability of public transport services across all modes of public transport and that will help ensure that the costs of transport are shared more fairly across government, business and society.