Longest reply yet from Ian Mckee, although I think it is fairly classic buck-passing and redefining the question:
Dear Constituent
So many people have contacted me about this issue that I have drafted this response. Please do get back in touch if you wish to discuss further.
The Transport Infrastructure & Climate Change Committee has expressed concern over the budget line of ‘Support for Sustainable and Active Travel’ that has declined from £11.5m to £11.3m. The Committee has asked for the Scottish Government to find additional money from within the transport budget, although regrettably it hasn’t recommended where that money should come from. The Committee is now conducting a full-scale inquiry into active travel, and if this generates costed proposals then the Scottish Government will of course consider them with interest.
The reality of the Scottish budget however is that the Scottish Government has to work with an £800m reduction in its budget due to Westminster’s recession. This is a real threat to all public spending in Scotland and cannot simply be wished away. It means that all budgets are under severe pressure. Setting the Scottish Government's budget for the year is a lengthy and in-depth process which does involve looking at all areas of spending across the Government and identifying priorities. The Scottish Government sees investment to encourage more cycling as an important priority. However, delivering all our priorities through the 2010-11 draft budget submitted to the Parliament is already challenging, as transport and other budgets are fully committed. I also wish to highlight that opposition parties have so far been more concerned with GARL - the Glasgow Airport Rail Link - than active transport or green issues in general.
I must also highlight that the future take up of cycling will be affected far more by factors such as the layouts of new road networks through planning policy – which the Scottish Government is in the process of comprehensively overhauling. [Announcement expected Fri 18th Dec] Cycling and sustainable transport are not solely supported through this one, relatively small budget line. Local government, which has received a record £23bn funding package from central government, is responsible for delivering many of the real improvements on the ground, and is generously supported to do so.
The Scottish Government’s Cycling Action Plan envisages a substantial increase by 2020 towards 10% of journeys being by bike. Consultation responses are being finalised and a copy will be made available to the TICC Committee to inform its final report into Active Travel. Ministers have already agreed that the final Action Plan would take account of the recommendations in that report which would include options for future funding.
Another national example is the £27.4m Climate Challenge Fund, which supports grassroots community projects across Scotland. Many of these have been wholly or substantially focused on cycling. For example the £300,000 Greener Leith project includes promotion of cycling as part of a campaign to improve the environmental profile of the area as a whole.
The work of the Bike Station in the Southside of Edinburgh is another excellent example. You can see my motion on this here: http://www.ianmckee.org/motions
I take this opportunity to inform you that I have marked this motion for member's debate in Parliament and that I hope to discuss the topic of cycling, the progress made by the Bike Station and how this sets an example to companies and organisations across Scotland.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Ian McKee MSP
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