The Department for Transport confirmed last year that the Labour Government has “absolutely no plans to withdraw the concessionary bus pass scheme” for people over State Pension age or those with a disability. However, a new online petition is calling for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) to be expanded and follow the Scottish Government’s lead by providing free bus travel to everyone over the age of 60.
Petition creator Karen Hickman argues that the current scheme is “unjust” and calls for “equality for everyone over 60”. The campaigner explained that people in England, living outside London, are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach State Pension age – 66 for both men and women – which she believes has “changed dramatically.”.
The ‘extend free bus travel for people over 60 in England’ e-petition has been posted on the petitions-parliament website. At 10,000 signatures, it would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government and at 100,000 it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament.
The petition states: “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 state pension 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.”
You can view it online here.
There are two broad categories of people eligible for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme – older people and eligible disabled people. Both men and women are eligible for concessionary travel in England when they reach state pension age, 60 in Scotland.
Eligibility for concessionary travel may vary depending on local authorities and the specific terms of the concessionary travel scheme in place.
In December, the Labour Government was urged to consider the “potential merits of a reciprocal agreement between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland” to enable every State Pensioner to use their bus pass to travel for free to and within other UK nations for free.
Labour MP Elsie Blundell put the question to the Department for Transport, but the response will be a disappointment for the 12.9 million pensioners across the UK.
Transport Minister Simon Lightwood highlighted how the concessionary travel scheme is a “devolved policy area” which means the “administrative arrangements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ from those in England”. In the written response, he added: “There are no plans at present to introduce such an arrangement”.
It’s worth noting that the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 does include a power to allow for mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK through regulations in the future.
National Entitlement Card in Scotland
In Scotland, people over 60 are eligible to apply for the National Entitlement Card (NEC), which is administered by the Scottish Government. It is Scotland’s National Smartcard, offering access to many public services across the country.
The card gives elderly and disabled people free bus travel across Scotland and, through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, also provides reductions on train, Subway and ferry fares.
The NEC is valid for up to three years, but in a change to the renewal process, SPT no longer sends out renewal forms to disabled card holders. This means everyone with a card – sometimes referred to as a ‘Saltire card’ – should check the expiry date to make sure they will be able to enjoy uninterrupted entitlement to travel concessions.
SPT recommends applying for a renewal card at least five weeks before the expiry date. It’s also important to be aware that guidance on the SPT website states that the Concessionary Travel Card Unit at Buchanan Bus Station will be closed for in person applications until further notice.