Forbes hits back and promises free bus travel for under-19s will get green light

Tories put finance secretary on spot over budget vow

The Scottish Government is “committed” to free bus travel for under-19s, as promised in the budget, the finance secretary has said.

Kate Forbes rubbished claims by the Scottish Conservatives that their promise to the Greens may not come to fruition. As part of the budget process, the Scottish Government had to negotiate with other parties to pass its legislation through Holyrood.

For the fourth straight year, it was helped by the Greens to pass its plans.

It has resulted in a £173 million deal for the 2020-21 financial year that led to increases in spending on policing, climate change and local government.

The headline demand from the Greens was the implementation of free bus travel for young people aged 18 and under, which Ms Forbes gave an “in principle commitment” to implement.

A letter sent to Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and MSP Mark Ruskell pledged £15 million to look at the feasibility of the scheme, although Ms Forbes said some of that funding will pay for the early months of the scheme – due to come into force in January.

Ms Forbes said: “We wouldn’t have committed to initial investment if we didn’t believe that it was a good policy.

“We’ve already identified several streams of work around how it operates.”

Ms Forbes refused to give a timetable for the confirmation of the scheme – saying only she hoped the preparatory work would continue “at pace”.

She added: “We’re committed to trying to make this work.”

During the stage one debate in Holyrood, 24 hours after the agreement was reached with the Scottish Greens, Tory finance spokesman Donald Cameron and his predecessor Murdo Fraser both cast doubt on the promise.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: “The SNP hasn’t committed to introducing free bus travel for under-18s, they have only committed to investigating it.

“The Scottish Green Party appears to be the only group of people still fooled by this ploy.

“The only question is when will Kate Forbes drop the pretence and finally admit that it’s not going to happen.”

Mr Harvie said: “The policy of free bus travel for young people in Scotland was hard-won by the Scottish Greens in budget negotiations.’’

Picture: PA. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes makes her point.

Tory Murdo Fraser is unconvinced