SNP abandons sustainable transport

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has condemned the Scottish Government for abandoning its commitment to sustainable transport.

Information obtained by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that the Scottish Government has yet to make a decision about grant allocations for Sustrans, the sustainable transport organisation.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"This is an absurd situation. How can the Government publish a Budget before discussing spending plans for sustainable transport?

"On top of the Budget's dramatic cuts to investment in bus and rail services, this information confirms that the Scottish Government is not committed to sustainable transport.

"The SNP has chosen to dump sustainable transport programmes into the local government settlement where it will have to fight with social work and education for funding.

"This critical situation is further compounded by the council tax freeze policy, which is expected to cause local authorities major difficulties in funding public services."