Injured Forces Veterans May Get Concessionary Fares In Scotland

3rd July 2008

CONCESSIONARY FARE REVIEW TERMS PUBLISHED ELIGIBILITY WILL EXTEND TO INJURED VETERANS

The Scottish Government is proposing to extend the concessionary fares scheme for elderly and disabled people to ensure that injured forces veterans are included, Finance Secretary John Swinney said today.

Mr Swinney was speaking as the terms for the review of the current concessionary fares scheme were published. Mr Swinney 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 - set in train by the previous administration - will assess how the scheme has been operating since its introduction in April 2006, and look at ways to improve the scheme even further.

Mr 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."

The terms for the review are available at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/concessionary-fares