16/03/2007
- MP puts down early day motion in House of Commons
- 20 senior politicians sign Holyrood motion attacking proposals
- Opponents include top members of Scottish Parliament's Transport Committee
- Bus user group says plans will “drastically reduce choice” for passengers.
The Government has been urged to intervene to stop controversial plans by the Competition Commission to break up the Scottish inter-city coach network, it emerged today (16 March 2007).
Dunfermline and Fife West MP Willie Rennie has put down a House of Commons early day motion expressing “profound concern” at the Commission's proposals to force the Stagecoach-Scottish Citylink joint venture to sell off some Saltire Cross services, which link Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh.
Mr Rennie says the plans could “dismantle a high-quality, value-for-money and integrated network and replace it with a disintegrated collection of routes to the detriment of customers” and he urges the Government to “make representations to the Competition Commission to seek a reversal of its decision”.
More than 20 MSPs have already signed a Scottish Parliament motion attacking the Competition Commission. Labour, Scottish National Party, Liberal Democrat and Conservative MSPs from across Scotland have supported the motion by Dunfermline East MSP Helen Eadie, which says the Commission's plan presents a "serious conflict" with Scottish Executive transport policy.
Bristow Muldoon, Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Transport Committee, Deputy Convener Fergus Ewing, and a wide range of senior Scottish politicians have added their voice of opposition to the Commission's proposals.
Tom Wileman, Managing Director of the Stagecoach-Scottish Citylink joint venture, said today: “There has been a deafening silence from the Competition Commission to the wave of opposition to its proposals. Its plans are out of step with the Scottish Executive's transport policy and opposed by the very passengers it claims to be protecting.
“It is high time the Commission gave some answers to the Scottish public, ended the uncertainty hanging over the country's lifeline coach services and abandoned these unnecessary proposals.”
Last month, it was revealed that Tavish Scott, the Scottish Transport Minister, had written to the Competition Commission Chief Executive Martin Stanley demanding an explanation of the organisation's decision.
More than 60 MPs, MSPs, local authorities, regional transport partnerships, councillors, passenger groups, trade unions and members of the public have already expressed universal anger and concern during the consultation over the Commission's proposals.
Bus Users UK, the body representing the interests of customers, has also condemned the Commission's plans, insisting they will “drastically reduce the choice for coach passengers”.
Under the Stagecoach-Scottish Citylink joint venture, the Scottish coach network has benefited from a simpler, integrated timetable, faster and more frequent journeys, and excellent value-for-money fares. Passengers have responded positively to the improvements, with the number of people on the Saltire Cross services up 41% compared to 2006.
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Steve Stewart, Head of Media and
Public Affairs, Stagecoach Group, tel: 01738 442111 or 07764 774680
NOTES TO EDITORS
- On 12 September 2005, a new joint venture was created to operate the Scottish services of Stagecoach's megabus.com and Motorvator, and Braddell PLC's Scottish Citylink.
- Stagecoach acquired 35% of the share capital of Scottish Citylink Limited (“Citylink”) in return for transferring certain rights to the Motorvator and megabus.com operations in Scotland . Braddell PLC owns the remaining 65% of Citylink's share capital.
- The joint venture operates services under the megabus.com and Scottish Citylink brands, and is the leading provider of express coach services in Scotland.
- A list of responses to the Competition Commission's plans is available on its website at:
http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2006/citylink/responses_draft_undertakings.htm - The full text of Helen Eadie's motion (S2M-5618 Helen Eadie: Bus Connectivity in Scotland and the Competition Commission) and the latest list of signatories can be found on the Scottish Parliament website at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/motionsAndAmendments/motions.htm
