Scottish Green Bus Fund applications and awards: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.


FOI reference: FOI/17/01930
Date received: 21 August 2017
Date responded: 1 September 2017

Information requested

Can you advise why and what grants are being gifted to Edinburgh (Lothian Buses and their subsidiaries) in preference to other Scottish bus operators for the purchase of "environmentally clean" buses ? It would appear that First Bus, Stagecoach (Fife) and Travel Dundee are losing out in comparison with Edinburgh.

Response

The Scottish Government's Scottish Green Bus Fund (SGBF) which was launched in 2010 to incentivise the purchase of low carbon emission buses to improve air quality, accessibility and to encourage modal shift. The scheme invited bus operators, Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) together with bus manufacturers to submit applications for funding. The SGBF operates as a challenge fund and offers successful bidders up to 80% of the price differential between a new low carbon bus and a diesel equivalent.

Through 6 rounds of the scheme some £14.76 million has been awarded to bus operators helping secure purchase of 315 new low carbon emission buses. Successful bidders have been a mix of both large and small bus operators.

Full details about the Fund, the application process and award details of all successful bidders can be found on our website: Scottish Green Bus Fund

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference

Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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