The latest meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in London saw ministers and mayors pledge support for fleets which support UK businesses
Government ministers and metro mayors pledged their support for greener journeys, skilled jobs and stronger UK manufacturing
in Westminster on 28 July. The fifth meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was chaired by the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, with attendance from mayors including David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Richard Parker (West Midlands), and Steve Rotheram (Liverpool), alongside the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, and Scottish Transport Secretary Kirsty McNeill. The session focussed on the future pipeline of zero-emission bus orders, in order to give UK manufacturers the long-term certainty needed to invest and grow. The panel also committed to ensuring that new zero-emission buses bring real social benefits to the communities they serve, and work to support local employment, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Attendees also committed to ensuring that every pound of public money spent on zero-emission buses provides the greatest social benefits for communities and the economy. The Government says it is working closely with local authorities to ensure new bus orders continue to support the UK supply chain and deliver cleaner, more reliable transport for passengers, and that around 60% of zero-emission buses funded through the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programmes are being built by UK-based manufacturers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ”It was great to bring mayors together today for the fifth meeting of the bus manufacturing expert panel, where we committed to building a strong pipeline of future zero-emission bus orders. By mapping out future demand, we’re giving industry the certainty they need to grow, supporting jobs, delivering better buses for passengers, and accelerating our journey towards a cleaner, greener transport system, while delivering our Plan for Change.”
Director of the Urban Transport Group Jason Prince added: “Investing in buses, especially greener, cleaner buses is good for our transport systems, our health and the economy. Government, operators and our members, working together through the manufacturing panel to unlock the full potential of greener buses will help realise these benefits for passengers and their local communities.”
Faced with the impending closure of Alexander Dennis’ Scottish plant, which the manufacturer has now placed up for sale, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “The future pipeline of demand for electric buses across the UK is essential to support bus manufacturing in Scotland. Whilst the Scottish Government is able to assess demand in our country, potential demand from UK mayoral authorities and other relevant operators is essential. That is why it is so important we see a cross-government approach to consider the future pipeline of demand and why I was pleased to be able to attend and contribute to this extraordinary meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel in London.
“The Scottish Government remains wholly committed to supporting the future of bus manufacturing in Scotland, which contributes greatly to our economy and directly supports our transition to a net zero transport system.”
