Concern as bus passengers flout new face mask rules

Bus passengers are being given a chance to adapt to new rules on wearing face masks, despite it being compulsory.

Stagecoach say they feel it will “take some time” for people to get used to the strict measures and added enforcing the rule is a matter for the police.

The Scottish Government brought in the compulsory use of masks yesterday to help reduce the risk of transmission.

However, local passengers have reported a significant number of people embarked without the PPE and were not challenged.

One man on the Stagecoach service 73 from Dundee city centre to Craigie was surprised by the lack of face coverings.

He said fewer than a quarter of the people on the journey used a mask and when he asked, he was told by the driver they had been told not to make a fuss.

He said: “I’m wearing one but it’s not for my benefit – it’s for everyone else’s.

“It’s my first time on public transport since lockdown as I’ve been avoiding the bus but I thought it would be safer now.

“If this isn’t enforced, then how can they keep enforcing social distancing and other things?”

The rule applies to buses, trains, the Glasgow Subway, Edinburgh trams, aircraft, enclosed areas onboard ferries, taxis and private hire cabs.

There are exemptions for children under five years old and those with certain medical conditions.

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: “In line with new government rules, face coverings are now compulsory on all public transport in Scotland and this will be enforced by Police Scotland.

“Our experience is that the majority of passengers have been following the new rules.

“There may be instances where people forget or aren’t aware and we are helping our passengers to understand the new guidance.”

A new 77-page document details the steps required to address the economic challenges Scotland faces as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Increased access to capital investment to support the economy and the creation of jobs at an “unprecedented rate” are among the measures called for the Scottish Government’s independent economic advisory group, led by Benny Higgins.

Mr Higgins said that as the pandemic comes under more control, efforts must “increasingly focus” on how the economy recovers and renews itself for the long term.

The report sets out 25 recommendations, wide-ranging in scope, but covering areas including investment, employment and skills.

What are some of the key recommendations?

● Scottish Jobs Guarantee for 16 to 25-year-olds.

This would see the creation of a nationwide scheme which would offer at least two years of “secure employment” to young people, to avoid “long-term scarring” of a generation.

Under the scheme, they would be paid the Livng Wage with access to training, apprenticeships and the possibility of progression.

● More autonomy for the Scottish Government to decide how funds are spent.

UK and Scottish Governments should accelerate the review of the fiscal framework that currently “binds” Scotland closely to the UK Government’s fiscal stance, which remains a key factor in determining the Scottish budget.

● The crisis highlights the need for collaboration and for responses to be tailored to the needs of specific regions and sectors.

Differences between geography and sectors need to be “recognised, respected and championed”.

● The report states the UK and Scottish Governments should organise investment in Scotland’s digital infrastructure, covering broadband and mobile networks.

The crisis has confirmed the importance of digital technology in all aspects of life and the report argues that enhanced investment in this area will be a “foundation of economic recovery”.

The report identifies a need to accelerate the Scottish Government’s R100 project, which will see new fibre infrastructure installed across rural Scotland, enabling access to superfast broadband.

● Prioritisation and delivery of green investments.

The report states that the green economic recovery is “central to the recovery overall”.

Responding to climate change needs to be a “thread through every policy action” and this should be a key task of the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Infrastructure Investment Plan and the update to Climate Change Plan.

These plans should set out investments to deliver net zero emissions and for green transport infrastructure, carbon capture and storage, energy generation and storage and hydrogen, to name but a few projects.

● Tourism and hospitality.

The sectors have been hit “particularly hard” by the crisis and will “struggle” to recover quickly, the report claims.

Specific action called for in the report includes consideration of a targeted reduction in business rates for tourism venues.

● Care sector review.

The Scottish Government should speed up its work on reforming adult social care and should “urgently review” the structure, funding and regulation of the sector, including workforce issues.

● Stimulate investment in housing. Investment in housebuilding has been identified in the report as having an “important part to play” in supporting Scotland’s recovery, supporting jobs and contributing to social policy an climate change goals.

● Stakes in private companies. The first minister has said she would “look positively” at taking stakes in companies, following a recommendation in the report that the Scottish Government should build its capacity to take ownership stakes in private businesses.

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I’m wearing one but it’s not for my benefit – it’s for everyone else’s.

BUS PASSENGER

What next?

The first minister said during her daily briefing yesterday that the Scottish Government will produce a “detailed response” to the report before the end of July.

While she said she would not comment in detail on the 25 recommendations the report makes, she added: “The Scottish Government sees this report as a serious and substantive piece of work and agrees with the basic principles.”