Current status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 30 July 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what its timetable is for publishing the statutory guidance to support local transport authorities when utilising bus franchising powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
The Scottish Government has now delivered all the bus powers within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable local transport authorities to consider all the powers available to them, including partnership working, franchising and local authority run services which sits alongside their ability to subsidise services. Further regulations will be laid throughout 2024, which will give the partnership and franchising powers full effect.
Alongside the outstanding legislation, the Scottish Government will publish its statutory guidance on bus franchising powers before the end of 2024. It will also publish statutory guidance on Bus Services Improvement Partnerships (BSIPs) before the end of 2024.