Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament am 2:00 pm ar 31 Hydref 2024.
James Dornan
Scottish National Party
2:00,
31 Hydref 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many journeys in Glasgow have been taken by under-22s using a free bus pass in the last year. (S6O-03868)
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
In the 12 months to 30 September 2024, 10,657,077 bus journeys were made by children and young people for free using a card issued in the Glasgow City Council region.
James Dornan
Scottish National Party
I thank the Minister for that very positive response. Does he agree that the scheme has been hugely successful in making bus travel more attractive to people at a younger age, with the accompanying benefit of opening up social, education, employment and leisure opportunities that younger people might not have had access to?
Jim Fairlie
Scottish National Party
I completely agree with the points that James Dornan has made. This is a truly transformational policy that is opening up opportunities for young people right across Scotland to leisure, learning, work, social activities and family connections that would not otherwise be available to them.
Since January 2022, more than 170 million free bus journeys have been made under the young persons scheme, and more than 772,000 cardholders have now signed up. This landmark policy is helping young people and families with children to cut costs every day in leisure and travel, while at the same time helping to protect our climate.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
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