Wales Green Party leader, Pippa Bartolotti, has called for a rethink of foreign ownership of public transport in Wales. Bartolotti has stated: “Whilst our public transport is in private hands, we must make sure that it benefits the Welsh economy and is not sucking profits out of the system.”
The Green Party have already announced policies to renationalise the railways, but in Wales they want to see a transfer of bus ownership to local businesses. Wales Green Party point to the example of Arriva which is owned by Deutsche-Bahn. This means that Welsh public transport users are effectively subsidising public transport in Germany. Arriva's profits rose by 9.9 per cent to £373million in 2013 for its bus and train operations in 14 countries.
Wales Green Party recognise the importance of local private businesses which support careers for local people. A transfer of transport operations to Welsh businesses would mean a huge boost to the economy and potentially the provision of more jobs.
Bartolotti explained how this fits with the Party's broader view of local procurement. “One reason that multinationals are finding it so easy to dominate is because local governments are not being strong in defending local business, and instead are actually working for the multinationals. Greens would support local procurement policies if elected, and ensure that contracts can be awarded to local businesses as a preference over price”.
Wales Green Party are also demanding more control over public transport for the Welsh Assembly.
Bartolotti added: “Wales, not Westminster, should be able to decide whether or not we bring our bus services back into public ownership in the future.”