The Scottish Government has outlined the terms of its review of Scotland’s concessionary fares regime.
Finance Secretary John Swinney has said the Government is proposing to extend the scheme for elderly and disabled people to ensure that injured forces veterans are included.
He also confirmed that the eligibility criteria for all those who currently benefit from the scheme will be maintained, meaning free travel throughout Scotland at any time and on any bus routes, while Ministers consider any further improvements to the scheme.
The review will assess how the scheme has been operating since its introduction in April 2006, and look at ways to improve the scheme.
The Scottish Government said that the review should consider the demand for and utilisation of the present scheme; how effectively the scheme is meeting the objectives set for it; how the present scheme is meeting the needs of particular groups of bus users, including disabled people and how best to improve access for injured ex-forces veterans. It will also examine how the practical operation of the scheme can be improved; the implications of any extension to the scheme and whether the scheme is delivering value for money to the taxpayer.
The Scottish Government seek the views of the Passenger Transport Users Committee for Scotland, the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland, the bus industry and local authorities in the review, which is expected to be completed over the next six months with any necessary amendments to the current scheme brought to Parliament in Spring 2009.
Swinney said: “The concessionary fares scheme has been a widespread success, bringing free travel to elderly and disabled people across Scotland. We now want to look at how the scheme can be improved even further. For example, I want to ensure that eligibility is extended so that injured veterans in Scotland are able to benefit from free bus travel.
“Older and disabled people will continue to be able to travel for free throughout Scotland - at any time, on any bus routes, for any number of journeys. It is important for the sake of vulnerable citizens across Scotland that baseless claims to the contrary are corrected.
“The review - set in train by the previous administration - is about looking at positive changes that can be made for the benefit of the people of Scotland.”
Responding to the announcement, Des McNulty, Labour's Shadow Transport Minister said: “Labour put the SNP under weeks of sustained pressure to come clean on their review of concessionary travel. After weeks of dodging the issue the Scottish Government has finally caved in.
“Alex Salmond had refused to guarantee that charges would not be introduced, or that it would remain free at all times of the day and right across Scotland.
“He has done more twists and turns on this issue than a bendy bus. But if this is his final u-turn then it is the first victory of Labour’s by-election campaign in Glasgow East.
“The SNP Government is still slashing £10 million from the budget in real terms and we will be closely scrutinising the detail of this review to make sure there are no other hidden cuts.”
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