Question reference: S6W-00552
- Asked by: Gordon MacDonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 8 June 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Graeme Dey on 9 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether COVID-19 funding for bus operators will be extended beyond 27 June 2021.
Answer
Today I am announcing up to £35.4 million in further funding to support bus operators maintain services between 28 June and 3 October. This is in addition to up to £61.4 million that the Scottish Government has already made available in 2021-22, and up to £191.3 million that was available in 2020-21. This funding is subject to regular reconciliation to ensure we are not over or under paying operators and actual spend in 2020-21 is forecast at £119.5 million. Funding only covers the gap between additional Covid-19 operational costs and lost fare revenue due to physical distancing.