The National Entitlement Card (NEC) provides access to many public services across Scotland and gives people over 60, and those of all ages with a disability, free bus travel across the country. Through the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, it also provides reduced fares on train, Subway and ferry journeys.

However, south of the border eligibility and usage rules for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) are different and two MPs have asked the UK Government to consider making changes to the policy. Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster has urged the Department for Transport if it will make an assessment of the “potential merits of extending the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to peak travel times”.

In a written response earlier this week to the Woking MP, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood explained that the scheme “provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of State Pension age” but added that local authorities “have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the times at which concessionary passes can be used”.

In another separate written question, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion Siân Berry, asked if the Department plans to “carry out a review of the eligibility criteria for bus passes for disabled people”.

Mr Lightwood responded: “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.”

Online petition

A new online petition is calling for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme 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.

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