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Free Unlimited
National Bus Travel For Older People
 Thousands
of older people from North Ayrshire will benefit from free and unrestricted
national bus travel from 2006. Allan Wilson MSP has welcomed the move which
will deliver on a commitment made in the Labour Party manifesto.
The new scheme will extend the current local concessionary schemes and
provide all older people and people with disabilities with free and
unlimited national bus travel. It will also provide two return ferry trip to
those living in Scotland’s island communities. The new transport agency for
Scotland will run the expanded scheme with £159 million set aside to deliver
the free travel in 2006-07, rising to £163 million in 2007-08. A
concessionary scheme for younger people is set to be announced in the New
Year.
Allan Wilson said:
“I am delighted that that the Scottish Executive have now confirmed that a
nationwide scheme will be up and running by April 2006. In the first session
of the Scottish Parliament I was especially proud of the work done to assist
older people in Scotland. Free central heating, free off peak local bus
travel and free personal care have all been delivered and are making a real
difference to the lives of pensioners. The commitment to provide free
national bus travel was first mooted in the Labour Party manifesto and we
are now delivering on that commitment.
“The existing scheme offering local travel has been a tremendous success,
with over 1 million people taking advantage of it and passenger numbers
rising by around 20%. I believe that the improved scheme will be of great
benefit to pensioners and people with disabilities from across North
Ayrshire.”
“Labour is determined to improve the quality of life for pensioners across
Scotland. I would like to think that the combination of free personal care,
central heating and bus travel makes life more enjoyable and, I hope, it
makes retirement for pensioners more dignified. That is what we sought to do
when we included this commitment in the Labour Party manifesto, and that is
what we are seeking to deliver.”
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