Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Glasgow, has placed a motion before the Scottish Parliament urging both Strathclyde Passenger Transport and the Scottish Government to deliver the much needed Glasgow subway modernisation programme.

In his parliamentary motion he describes the subway as a 'key asset to both Glasgow and the wider west of Scotland' and highlights that without modernisation that the 'operating deficit and public subsidy will significantly increase and the reliability of the subway will suffer'.

Mr Doris has already met twice with David Wallace, Director of Subway Operations at SPT, and will meet with the Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP in the next few weeks. Mr Doris is urging SPT to send its detailed business plan on subway modernisation to the Scottish Government as soon as possible to allow full scrutiny of the plan. Mr Doris has also insisted that should the plan be 'robust' and 'affordable' that the Scottish Government should make the appropriate financial commitment, potentially by 'guaranteeing, under strict conditions, future interest payments on loans taken by the subway operating body in order to enable the significant capital expenditure needed or by any other effective method'.

Mr Doris hopes the parliamentary motion and his forthcoming meeting with the Transport Minister will help focus minds and build momentum towards securing the much needed subway modernisation programme. Mr Doris commented: "I have discussed the proposed subway modernisation with Strathclyde Passenger Transport and they clearly have some ambitious plans. In terms of modernisation the ball is currently at the feet of SPT. I agree the modernisation is needed to secure this vital service for Glasgow and the next step is for SPT to provide a detailed business plan to the Scottish Government as early as possible. This will allow Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to scrutinise the proposals fully.

"Given the concerns that have been raised in the past in relation to SPT I am sure the Scottish Government will want to seek assurances over value for money to the taxpayer and any concerns they may have in terms of corporate governance.

"That said, subway modernisation must be supported as long as the business plan stacks up and I am keen for the Scottish Government to look in detail at a series of options including the idea of guaranteeing interest payments on capital loans taken out by SPT to fund the modernisation. I will be pressing the case for investment in the subway when I meet with Stewart Stevenson at the start of August."

Notes.

1. Bob Doris MSP met with David Wallace on the 6th and 25th of June 2010.

2. Bob Doris MSP will be meeting with Stewart Stevenson MSP on 9 August to discuss subway modernisation.

3. Motion placed before parliament by Bob Doris MSP.

S3M-06740 Bob Doris (Glasgow) (Scottish National Party): Committing to Subway Modernisation -
That the Parliament believes that Glasgow's subway system is a well-loved and key asset to both Glasgow and the wider west of Scotland region and that it provides a vital service that effectively transports locals, workers and tourists across large parts of the city and eases congestion on Glasgow's roads; further believes that, over 30 years since the last modernisation programme for the subway was initiated, it is now time for a new modernisation programme that will significantly improve, among other things, ticketing, stations, track and rolling stock as well as the frequency and reliability of trains and enhance the commuter experience; considers that, without such investment, both the operating deficit and public subsidy will significantly increase and the reliability of the subway will suffer, and calls on Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) to provide the Scottish Government with a robust, detailed and affordable business plan for subway modernisation to allow it to scrutinise the plan in detail with a view to working with SPT to identify how subway modernisation can be supported, whether by guaranteeing, under strict conditions, future interest payments on loans taken by the subway operating body in order to enable the significant capital expenditure needed or by any other effective method.