The SNP Government’s National Older and Disabled Persons Concessionary Travel Scheme operates all year round but its impact over Christmas and New Year is even more welcome, as it helps bring families together from across the country at special and expensive time.
The concessionary travel scheme - which has been rolled out for injured armed services veterans too – has been hailed as “a service Scotland can be proud of” by Jim Eadie MSP.
The average saving per year is approximately £230 to each of the 1.23 million people holding a National Entitlement Card. The scheme is clearly popular - 87% of those eligible on age grounds have a card and the number of people with disabilities holding National Entitlement Cards for free bus travel at the end of October was 187,645.
Mr Eadie, a member of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, said:
“Funding for concessionary travel has increased every year since its introduction and in the last year has benefited Scotland's older bus users by an average of nearly £230.
“Labour and Johann Lamont’s Cuts Commission – recently hailed by the Tory Party in Wales – have threatened to axe this benefit which is so valued by Scotland’s older people, disabled and veteran communities.
“But as we come to the end of the European Year of Active Ageing the priority of any politician concerned with fairness and well being must be to ensure that the concessionary scheme continues to provide free local and long distance bus travel throughout Scotland for older and disabled people at any time of day, on any routes, for any number of journeys.”
Notes:
Jim Eadie MSP has asked several questions on the detail of the uptake of the Concessionary Travel Scheme.
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4W-10611
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4W-10610
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4W-10609
Welsh Tories say Labour in Wales should follow Labour in Scotland and end universal benefits
http://www.glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co.uk/news/
2012 has been The European Year of Active Ageing
http://europa.eu/ey2012/
