This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Free bus travel to go Scotland-wide
22/12/2004
Plans for free, unrestricted national bus travel for
Scotland's older people and those with disabilities was
announced today.
In a statement to Parliament today, Transport Minister
Nicol Stephen said existing concessionary travel schemes
would be expanded to unlimited Scotland-wide free bus
travel, as well as two free return ferry trips a year for
older and disabled residents of Scotland's islands, from
April 2006.
Mr Stephen said:
"From 2006 all older and disabled people will be
entitled to Scotland-wide free bus travel.
"The Executive made this commitment last year and today
we are delivering. The new scheme goes further than we
promised, offering free travel to all parts of Scotland at
any time of the day - not just off peak periods.
"This is a major expansion of our existing free bus
scheme. It will open up opportunities and provide greater
access to vital health and community services.
"A free national bus travel scheme will further improve
the quality of life for over one million people in Scotland
by opening access to greater travel choice. It will connect
communities across the country.
"We are committed to improving access to public
transport. The recent Scottish budget provided substantial
new resources to introduce this scheme.
"From spring 2006, this new national unrestricted scheme
will make a major difference to the lives of some of
Scotland's most disadvantaged and vulnerable people."
Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace said:
"I am delighted that we have been able to extend the
benefits of our concessionary travel scheme by ensuring all
older and disabled islanders receive two free return ferry
journeys each year. Ferry services provide vital lifeline
links for our island communities.
This extension to the concessionary travel scheme will
help older and disabled islanders to access the national
bus travel scheme and connect people and communities up and
down the country."
The national bus scheme for older and disabled people
will cost a maximum of £159 million to operate in 2006-07
and £163 million in 2007-08.
Currently, local authorities have responsibility for
running concessionary travel schemes, but the national
concessionary travel scheme will be operated by a new
transport agency under powers being taken in the
Executive's Transport Scotland Bill.
The funding available for the operation of all
concessionary travel schemes is £213 million in 2006-07
(£109 million from the Scottish budget and £104 million
from Grant Aided Expenditure).
For 2007-08 there is £217 million (£113 million from the
Scottish Budget and £104 million GAE). This is an increase
in funding compared to 2003-04 when a total of £116.7
million was made available for all concessionary travel
schemes.