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MSPs' green light for workplace parking levy MSPs' green light for workplace parking levy
(about 1 hour later)
Plans to give local councils the power to charge a levy on workplace parking are expected to be passed into law.Plans to give local councils the power to charge a levy on workplace parking are expected to be passed into law.
The proposal is part of a series of changes to transport in Scotland being put to a final vote at Holyrood.The proposal is part of a series of changes to transport in Scotland being put to a final vote at Holyrood.
An attempt by Scottish Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during a debate on Wednesday.An attempt by Scottish Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during a debate on Wednesday.
The Scottish government's transport bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.The Scottish government's transport bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.
The SNP agreed to back the workplace parking levy proposals as part of a budget deal with the Scottish Greens so it is almost certain to be passed by a majority of MSPs in the vote later on Thursday.The SNP agreed to back the workplace parking levy proposals as part of a budget deal with the Scottish Greens so it is almost certain to be passed by a majority of MSPs in the vote later on Thursday.
This bill would give local authorities across Scotland the power to charge businesses an annual fee for every parking space they provide for workers.This bill would give local authorities across Scotland the power to charge businesses an annual fee for every parking space they provide for workers.
The firms themselves would then decide whether to pass the cost on to staff.The firms themselves would then decide whether to pass the cost on to staff.
How will a workplace parking scheme work?How will a workplace parking scheme work?
Read more about the proposed workplace parking levy here.Read more about the proposed workplace parking levy here.
The Transport (Scotland) Bill also aims to halt a decline in bus passenger numbers by giving councils and regional transport partnerships more flexibility to improve services, either by working with bus companies or by stepping in and running services themselves.The Transport (Scotland) Bill also aims to halt a decline in bus passenger numbers by giving councils and regional transport partnerships more flexibility to improve services, either by working with bus companies or by stepping in and running services themselves.
It also provides for a ban on double parking and parking on pavements, powers for enforcing low-emission zones in cities and new regulations overseeing roadworks.It also provides for a ban on double parking and parking on pavements, powers for enforcing low-emission zones in cities and new regulations overseeing roadworks.
A series of amendments to the wide ranging bill were put forward by MSPs in a late sitting of Holyrood on Wednesday.A series of amendments to the wide ranging bill were put forward by MSPs in a late sitting of Holyrood on Wednesday.
This included a bid to remove the workplace parking levy by Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby, who claimed less well-off workers would be the hardest hit.This included a bid to remove the workplace parking levy by Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby, who claimed less well-off workers would be the hardest hit.
He said: "Be in no doubt, this levy is a regressive tax on workers that will the lowest paid hardest. He said: "Be in no doubt, this levy is a regressive tax on workers that will hit the lowest paid hardest.
"It is not consequence-free, it is not fundamentally a solution to climate change and far from incentivising modal shift, it penalises those for whom modal shift is not an option."It is not consequence-free, it is not fundamentally a solution to climate change and far from incentivising modal shift, it penalises those for whom modal shift is not an option.
"It's not an option because for many working people, public transport in Scotland is simply not good enough.""It's not an option because for many working people, public transport in Scotland is simply not good enough."
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson accused Scottish Labour of "hypocrisy" over their opposition to the proposal, highlighting the introduction of a similar scheme at the Labour-run Nottingham City Council.Transport Secretary Michael Matheson accused Scottish Labour of "hypocrisy" over their opposition to the proposal, highlighting the introduction of a similar scheme at the Labour-run Nottingham City Council.
He added: "It's a power, not a duty. There is a high degree of local decision making in how a scheme is set up, with local authorities having wide powers to shape how that scheme is shaped to meet local needs."He added: "It's a power, not a duty. There is a high degree of local decision making in how a scheme is set up, with local authorities having wide powers to shape how that scheme is shaped to meet local needs."
Tory MSPs moved a string of amendments, aimed at ensuring a range of workplaces, such as schools and colleges, police and fire stations, prisons and veterinary practices were exempt, as well as shift workers and night workers.Tory MSPs moved a string of amendments, aimed at ensuring a range of workplaces, such as schools and colleges, police and fire stations, prisons and veterinary practices were exempt, as well as shift workers and night workers.
But these were rejected, with Mr Matheson saying local authorities would have a "very wide range of powers to apply local exemptions to premises, persons or motor vehicles".But these were rejected, with Mr Matheson saying local authorities would have a "very wide range of powers to apply local exemptions to premises, persons or motor vehicles".
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the plan was a "charter for extra cost and complexity".David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the plan was a "charter for extra cost and complexity".
He added: "The introduction of a levy will see firms' taxed twice for the parking places they provide for staff, on top of the business rates already paid on those spaces.He added: "The introduction of a levy will see firms' taxed twice for the parking places they provide for staff, on top of the business rates already paid on those spaces.
"The dearth of any business and regulatory impact assessment to accompany the introduction of this new tax is bewildering, and suggests MSPs risk voting for a pig in a poke.""The dearth of any business and regulatory impact assessment to accompany the introduction of this new tax is bewildering, and suggests MSPs risk voting for a pig in a poke."