Two MPs are urging the to overhaul the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) as a new campaign was launched to secure free bus passes for all individuals over 60.
Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster has also put forward a request to the Department for Transport to expand the ENCTS to include peak travel times.
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood acknowledged that while the scheme currently offers free off-peak bus travel for those eligible, local authorities have the leeway to provide extra concessions.
Meanwhile, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Sian Berry, has raised questions about whether the Department will reassess the eligibility criteria for disabled people’s bus passes.
Mr Lightwood addressed this by saying: “The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and, while the Department keeps the scheme under review, any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.”
Over 60s who live in England, outside of London, only get a bus pass when they hit state pension age (Image: Getty)
Last year, the Department for Transport stated that the Labour Government has “absolutely no plans to withdraw the concessionary bus pass scheme” for those above the age or with disabilities.
However, an is now circulating, calling on the Government to emulate Scotland and London’s example and grant free bus travel to all over-60s. Petition founder Karen Hickman argues that the present system is “unjust” and demands “equality for everyone over 60”.
The new petition is demanding urgent reforms to the current bus travel system claiming it unfairly excludes individuals under the age from free access to public transport.
The campaign, which has drawn considerable attention on the official , says: “We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.
“Currently, people in England who do not live in London are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach the age, which we believe has changed dramatically. As people get older some over 60s drive less and less, therefore we believe we need equality on public transport. It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
If the petition hits 100,000 signatures, it’ll be debated in parliment.
Under the present rules, free bus travel in England is linked to the age, although Scottish residents enjoy the perk from 60. Rules around concessionary travel can vary by local council, with each setting their terms within their jurisdiction.
In December, the Labour Government was encouraged to explore the “potential merits of a reciprocal agreement between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland” that would allow all State Pensioners to use their bus pass for free travel within and to other UK nations.
Labour MP Elsie Blundell submitted the question to the Department for Transport but the response will likely disappoint the 12.9 million pensioners in the UK.
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood highlighted that the concessionary travel scheme is a “devolved policy area”, indicating that the “administrative arrangements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ from those in England”. In his written statement, he also noted: “There are no plans at present to introduce such an arrangement”.