McGill’s Buses has warmly welcomed emergency support for the Scottish bus industry.

The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland announced the move to help essential workers carry out their roles amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It means that concessionary travel reimbursement and bus service operator grant payments will be maintained at the levels forecasted prior to the impact of COVID-19 - typically over £260million per annum in supporting bus services.

McGill’s chairman James Easdale said: “This is a sensible and much welcomed approach by the Transport Secretary and his advisers.

"This government support goes a long way in keeping people connected and ensuring those with essential jobs get to work.

“We have strived to keep a service on the road at great cost to the company but this government intervention will help greatly in securing the future of our amazing staff at McGill’s.”

The company’s co-owner Sandy Easdale said: “This allows us to keep a relevant bus service available for the public.

"We couldn’t have done this without the massive efforts of our managing director Ralph Roberts, who is chairman of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, and who has represented the needs of all the operators superbly in these difficult times.”

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said the Government was doing everything it could to support the bus industry at this unprecedented time.

He added: "This action will enable critical services to continue to run, helping our key workers get to their work and to carry out their essential roles across the country.

"I also recognise that our bus industry will be vital to our economic recovery – and we must take steps to protect that recovery now."