That the Parliament notes with concern the recent consultation announced by the UK’s Senior Traffic Commissioner on voluntary guidelines for bus companies taking passengers to sporting events in Scotland; considers that this is specifically aimed at football fans; further considers that the consultation offers no evidence that existing procedures are inadequate or that there is a problem to be solved; believes that this will place extra responsibilities on clubs, fans and travel operators, with no clear, achievable purpose; further believes that in no other sport would demands of this kind be expected or accepted, and considers that the lack of evidence of a problem and of an attainable outcome is evidence of, and further contributes to, the demonisation of football fans in Scotland; notes reports that show Scottish football tops the European attendance tables; considers that the proposals will simply act as a deterrent to law-abiding fans from supporting their teams, and calls on the Senior Traffic Commissioner to withdraw the consultation.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Jackie Baillie, Claire Baker, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Neil Bibby, Foysol Choudhury, Katy Clark, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Jim Fairlie, Russell Findlay, Kenneth Gibson, Maurice Golden, Mark Griffin, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Richard Leonard (Registered interest)
, Douglas Lumsden, Fulton MacGregor, Liam McArthur, Ivan McKee, Stuart McMillan, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Paul O'Kane, Anas Sarwar, Graham Simpson, Colin Smyth, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba, Tess White, Martin Whitfield, Brian Whittle