Scottish Government set to U-turn on free bus travel for asylum seekers

During a Holyrood debate on Wednesday, Hyslop told MSPs her Government remained “committed to trying to find a way through the budget processes left in this parliamentary session to fund this support,” but was unable to commit due to budget constraints.

At Wednesday’s debate, Green MSP Maggie Chapman called on the Government to U-turn on its position to axe the deal, however the vote was non-binding and the Government does not need to act on the result.

Scottish Tory MSP Sue Webber said taxpayers’ money “must be spent on the most pressing concerns of the people of this country”.

She told parliament: “As commendable as it may be to many, the proposal here today to spend millions of pounds on giving asylum seekers free travel comes at the very same time the SNP and Labour are taking away the winter fuel payments from our pensioners.

“It is not right. In fact it is downright scandalous to take money from pensioners in favour of this proposal to people across Scotland.

“It looks like the Scottish Parliament has lost the plot.”

Asylum speakers under 22 and over 60 are already eligible for free bus travel, but Humza Yousaf’s Government set out £2million to extend the scheme to benefit more individuals.

Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said the relatively low-cost scheme would enable asylum seekers to access healthcare and visit family.

He said: “My constituents need help, and such a small amount of money that this policy costs will have a profound impact on the lives and the wellbeing of those people, many of whom are the most marginalised, the most vulnerable, the most desperate of our constituents.”

Harvie’s fellow Green colleague, Mark Ruskell, issued a direct apology to asylum seekers in Scotland who had been anticipating the scheme from the Scottish Government.

He said asylum seekers were being forced to make “impossible choices” with the limited money they have due to the price of travel.

Charities had been critical of the Scottish Government U-turn when the Finance Secretary responded to the increasingly damning financial despair emanating out of Westminster.

Following up on Wednesday’s debate, Gary Christie, head of policy, communications and communities for the Scottish Refugee Council, said asylum seekers have been “let down” by the move.

“Today’s recommitment to a pilot in the Scottish Parliament is welcome,” he said, “but if ministers truly intend to deliver on their promise, people seeking asylum need urgent clarity on exactly when and how they plan to move forward.”

SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison is expected to announce her budget plans on Wednesday 4th December, one week after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her first budget.