10 December 2012
Budget scrutiny again fails sustainable transport
Comment from Transform Scotland parliamentary assistant Bregje van Veelen on today's
Finance Committee report on the Draft Budget 2013-14:
"It appears that once again MSPs have failed to support sustainable transport and the key role it plays in meeting the Government’s carbon reduction targets."Despite agreeing the importance of sustainable and active transport, the Infrastructure, Capital and Investment Committee’s recommendations have failed to make an impact. As part of its scrutiny of the 2012-13 Draft Budget the Committee has received extensive evidence from various organisations promoting sustainable and active travel, and recognises that its current budget is insufficient to meet the Government’s own carbon reduction and cycling targets. Furthermore, a proposed reduction in CWSS (Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets) funding and local maintenance budgets will do nothing to counter the increase in cyclists suffering serious injuries, as reported by Transport Scotland last month. "Although the Committee recognises the importance of sustainable and active transport, its inability to recommend how the Budget should be redistributed means that its scrutiny has been largely meaningless and its call for increased funding has been ignored."