Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support (a) local authorities, (b) regional transport partnerships and (c) the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland to identify areas where there are lower levels of accessible buses that are compliant with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR), and how it will support local operators to increase the proportion of buses in their fleets that meet PSVAR accessibility standards.
Vehicle accessibility legislation is set out in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000.PSVAR applies in England, Scotland and Wales and are the responsibility of the UK Government Department for Transport. The Department for Transport provides the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) with a specific fund to enforce the requirements outlined in the PSVAR. It is the responsibility of DVSA to ensure that PSVAR compliance is monitored closely and that any bus or coach operator found to be in breach of these regulations is dealt with accordingly.
The Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) accelerates Scotland’s shift to cleaner, greener buses. Phase 3 of ScotZEB3 aims to maximise the number of accessible zero emission Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) operating on local public bus services. Financial support for new buses and coaches within the ScotZeb subsidy cap may include the integration of accessibility and safety systems required for public service operation, as well as modifications to provide wheelchair-accessible spaces in vehicle classes not covered by Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000.