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Thousands of older
people from Ardrossan and Saltcoats will benefit from free and unrestricted
national bus travel from 2006.
 Thousands
of older people from Ardrossan and Saltcoats 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.
Mr 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.”
First Minister Jack McConnell said “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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