REVEALED: SNP to fund £3MILLION ScotRail giveaway meant for passenger improvement
HUMZA Yousaf's £3 million rail giveaway was branded a "sham" as it emerged it will be funded by fines meant to boost services.
The embattled Transport Minister ruled out a freeze in fares for long-suffering ScotRail passengers instead pledging week's free travel for annual and season ticket holders.
But ScotRail boss Phil Verster told astonished MSPs he "couldn't vouch" for the scheme going forward with the cash coming from penalties for failing to meet standards on trains and stations.
He said there were plans to use £1.8 million from the Service Quality Incentive Regime (Squire) fund but revealed there is around £1 million in pot.
It's not new money
This could see the operator having to be hit with more penalites to help pay for Mr Humza's free travel plan.
The regime inspects areas including toilets, timetables, train cleanliness, graffiti, staff service and the public address system.
Cash clawed back from ScotRail is meant to go to passenger improvements, such as disabled access or upgraded station toilets.
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Mr Verster, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, said: "The Squire fund has a certain value to date but it can be anticipated that, over the next couple of months, the next six months or so, that this fund could grow.."He told Holyrood's connectivity committee he been given just "two to three weeks" notice of the policy before Mr Yousaf announcement's last month.
Details of the plan had yet to be worked out and may not be finalised for several weeks, he said.
He explained: "People buy season tickets throughout the year so how and when do we give them a week free? It's detail like that that must be married up to what industry systems can manage."
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: "It's quite extraordinary. I was going to say it's policy on the back of a fag packet but I don't think it's even reached that."
Branding the plan "completely inappropriate" furious Lib Dem Mike Rumbles said: "It's not new money. It's money that you were going to invest in the railways."
Mr Yousaf had been due to appear before the committee but was unable due to illness.
Calling for the Tranport Minister to appear for questioning, "as soon as possible", convener Edward Mountain said: "It's been ill considered and it's taking money from a fund earmarked to benefit other aspects of the railways and now being used to bail the minister out of a sticky situation."
There has been widespread public anger over delays, cancellations, and overcrowding on the country's railway.
The Scottish Government last night said the Squire fund stood at around £2 million before the fares initiative is paid for, with additional cash coming from ministers.
But it is understood Mr Verster's £1 million figure was based on projections for future improvement projects.
Scottish Tory MSP Liam Kerr said: "It's now clear that this supposed give away is a sham, and that this money could have been spent on actually improving our rail service."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government remains absolutely committed to the £3 million fares initiative that will offer annual and season ticket holders with a week's free travel, and in many cases worth more than a fares freeze, as a
'thank you' for their patience while we improve Scotland's rail services and infrastructure.
"A free week's travel will be offered this year and further discounts for daily, weekly and leisure travellers."