‘Green’ SNP transport quango’s 1,355 f lights

Group is accused of not addressing climate fears

IT is the SNP Government quango leading efforts to encourage Scots to embrace greener methods of travel.

But Transport Scotland has been accused of failing to take its own action to address the ‘climate emergency’ after its staff took hundreds of flights last year.

Over the past five years, staff at the agency took 872 domestic flights and 483 international flights.

And the annual total nearly doubled last year compared to 2014-15, when it also became more reliant on air travel for domestic journeys.

Mike Rumbles, transport spokesman for the Scottish Lib Dems, said: ‘News of the climate emergency does not seem to have reached Transport Scotland.

‘Every public body should be working out how they can reduce their impact on the planet and Transport Scotland in particular should be leading by example.

‘The SNP record on the environment is one of fiddling and fudging. They are still flip-flopping on Heathrow expansion, told the public they had banned fracking while arguing the opposite in court, and have utterly failed to make a dent in fuel poverty levels.

‘The Liberal Democrats have a plan to cut harmful emissions by 2030 and get to net zero by 2045. We want to see every home and building insulated through an emergency ten-year programme, and ensure all new cars are electric within a decade. Nobody should get a free pass – especially not Transport Scotland.’

In 2018-19, members of staff at Transport Scotland took 197 domestic flights and 110 international flights.

This is a huge increase compared to 2014-15, when there were 126 domestic journeys by air and 59 international flights.

The number of international journeys last year fell from 155 in 201718 but domestic journeys increased, from 184 (in 2017-18).

In August, the Mail revealed that large numbers of Transport Scotland staff have snubbed its own ‘active travel’ advice by continuing to commute to work by car.

A survey answered by 304 of its 443 staff members found that 42 per cent of them use a car for at least part of their journey to work.

This is despite the agency’s two main offices – at Victoria Quay in

Edinburgh and Buchanan House in Glasgow – being well served by public transport.

Transport Scotland is responsible for promoting the Scottish Government’s vision of an ‘Active Nation’ where people cycle and walk rather than use cars.

It carried out a ‘travel to work’ survey of 304 staff in March 2019. It found 22 per cent admitted using the car as their ‘primary method of transport to work’. A further 20 per cent said they used the car for part of their journey.

Transport Scotland is reviewing its carbon management plan to ensure it is ‘in line with the climate emergency and net zero targets’.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘International flights taken by our staff actually reduced by almost a third (110 v 155) last year.

‘However, it is sometimes unavoidable for officials to undertake overseas business visits in order to promote Scotland, strengthen international ties and advance our interests across a range of sectors.

‘Our officials are always mindful of their carbon footprint and try to strike a balance between promoting our progressive policies and strategies on climate change, air quality, road safety, active travel and accessibility, and any impact on the environment.

‘We take this very seriously and aim to use more sustainable forms of transport wherever possible.

‘Before travelling on official business, civil servants must consider if their journey is necessary and represents good value for the Scottish Government and the taxpayer.

‘In every instance civil servants must travel in the most cost-effective and time-efficient method available at the time of travelling. We have clear policies and limits in place for all travel claims.

‘Any business flights taken by Ministers or employees are offset by a carbon levy. The levy collects approximately £40,000 per year, and is spent in a transparent way to deliver best value for taxpayers and compensate for any carbon emissions generated. Most recently, this has included spending on solar panels for St Andrew’s House to reduce electricity consumption.’

‘Nobody gets a free pass’