Free Bus Travel for under 22s in Scotland

[GusB]

Just heard this on the news a few minutes ago

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51644373

The Scottish government is to set up a free bus travel scheme for under-19s as part of an SNP-Green budget deal.

The agreement between the two parties will also see extra funding going to local government and the police.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said free bus travel would be a "step change" in supporting young people and helping tackle climate change.

MSPs will vote on the budget for the first time on Thursday, with the tax and spending plans now certain to pass.

Ms Forbes stepped in to deliver the budget the day after Derek Mackay resigned as finance secretary, and was subsequently appointed to replace him.

The budget does not contain any changes to income tax rates, with extra money being spent on health, education and investment aimed at tackling the "climate emergency".

Scottish Budget 2020/21
Draft Income Tax plan

• 19%Starter rate
  
  
• 20%Basic rate

• 21%Intermediate rate
  
  
• 41%Higher rate
  
  
• 46%Top rate

Source: Scottish Government
The commitment to set up a free public transport scheme for young people comes on the same day as figures showed fewer people were using buses.

Ministers aim to have "national concessionary travel" system up and running by January 2021, with people aged 18 and under joining the over-60s in being eligible for free bus trips.

The deal with the Greens will also see an extra £95m going to local authorities, as well as £18m to police services and £45m to low carbon projects, including energy efficiency projects and active travel.

The changes will be paid for using underspends, longer term income from non-domestic rates and the fossil fuel levy.

The government has also agreed to review plans to upgrade the Sheriffhall roundabout on the Edinburgh bypass, although ministers have rejected calls from the Greens to scrap works on the A9 and A96.

MSPs will vote on the initial proposals on Thursday, with the terms of the deal with the Greens to be added in the following week when the budget is examined by a committee of MSPs.

The tax rates are expected to be signed off on Wednesday 4 March, with the final vote on the budget bill the following day.

Ms Forbes said she was "pleased to have reached an agreement", particularly given the "uncertainty" of the UK government not yet having set its budget.

She said the budget included "record investment" in health services and "significant investments to tackle the climate crisis".

She said: "I want to thank all parties for the constructive way in which they have approached this year's discussions.

"While it is not possible to meet every party's demands in full, I believe in reaching formal agreement with the Green Party I am also delivering on key asks from every party and I encourage all MSPs to consider giving their support to Scotland's budget."

Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said free bus travel would be a "transformational step towards tackling the climate emergency".

He added: "Clearly, a Green budget would do even more to tackle the climate emergency, but securing this important free bus travel deal for the next generation builds on the powers we won for local councils to take control of local bus services."

'Falls well short'
The other opposition parties had also been involved in talks with Ms Forbes, but hit out at the deal.

The Scottish Conservatives said the plan announced on Wednesday "still falls well short of what our economy and public services need", with finance spokesman Donald Cameron saying Tory MSPs would not back the budget unless extra cash was added for drug rehabilitation services.

Scottish Labour, which had called for a wider free bus travel system, said it was "deeply disappointing to see the Scottish Green Party yet again sell our local councils, our environment and indeed themselves short yet again".

The Scottish Lib Dems meanwhile said they would vote against the budget as long as the SNP continued to push for an independence referendum in 2020, with leader Willie Rennie saying this was "stopping an awful lot else being agreed".

 

[overthewater]

AT some point it will extend to everyone,

 

[hexagon789]

I'd accept reimbursements for travel to school/college/uni such as exist in certain circumstances; travel to job interviews paid by jobcentres as now, but a full-on universal free travel scheme, no.

 

[Volvodart]

They do not properly fund the current concession scheme which, as well as a reducing reimbursement rate for bus companies, usually results in bus companies not being paid for trips taken at the end of the financial year. They had previously said there was no money available to extend the current scheme to apprentices. I wonder where the money is coming from.

 

[hexagon789]

I wonder where the money is coming from.

The magic money tree that miraculously sprouts come election time or when needed to secure supply such as now...

 

[overthewater]

Local? Scotland wide? I doubt the parents will be happy...

 

[hexagon789]

Local? Scotland wide? I doubt the parents will be happy...

The article says "national", but presumably that's simply means it applies to U-19s Scotland-wide as opposed to nationwide bus journeys

 

[Bevan Price]

They do not properly fund the current concession scheme which, as well as a reducing reimbursement rate for bus companies, usually results in bus companies not being paid for trips taken at the end of the financial year. They had previously said there was no money available to extend the current scheme to apprentices. I wonder where the money is coming from.

Expect more small operators to get into money troubles, then?

 

[Observer]

Expect more small operators to get into money troubles, then?

It'll certainly finish off a few companies just like the concession passes hit plenty hard...all to appease the Greens who are actually Yellow inside!

 

[Alexbus12]

You can tell which group of voters the SNP are appealing to for the 2021 elections...

 

[Jordan Adam]

You can tell which group of voters the SNP are appealing to for the 2021 elections...

I mean the SNP already do well with the 18-26 demographic. But that's a topic for another thread...

They do not properly fund the current concession scheme which, as well as a reducing reimbursement rate for bus companies, usually results in bus companies not being paid for trips taken at the end of the financial year. They had previously said there was no money available to extend the current scheme to apprentices. I wonder where the money is coming from.

Agree...

 

[Eyersey468]

Wouldn't surprise me if it's being paid for by cutting yet further what the bus operators get paid for the existing scheme. They'll expect the bus companies to subsidise it either way

 

[Aictos]

I'd accept reimbursements for travel to school/college/uni such as exist in certain circumstances; travel to job interviews paid by jobcentres as now, but a full-on universal free travel scheme, no.

I agree wholeheartedly!

 

[Geordie driver]

I live in Scotland, at the last election we had a leaflet from them saying they might have to increase the age for pensioners passes due to the " evil Tories", now they have money for this?

 

[Volvodart]

They probably had no choice but to grant whatever crazy scheme the Greens wanted in order to pass the budget. None of the other parties put in proposals which could have been negotiated on to get their support, although the Conservatives normally do.

 

[lastbus]

Hope they can fund this a lot better than the current concession scheme.

 

[MDB1images]

Wish the UK govt had done this when I was out bashing MCWs as a youngster

If this can be paid for and nothing else gets cut then on paper it looks great but to have this succeed you need a full on plan.
Free bus travel won't encourage that many if the service is infrequent and the Bus provided is one move away from the scrap yard.
Frequently reliable run services attract people to modal shift with modern vehicles at the forefront would help with that.
Of course all that costs even more money!

The detail of how this is planned to work in Scotland will be interesting to read before any champagne corks go off and it's acclaimed as a brilliant move.

 

[hexagon789]

I agree wholeheartedly!

Well it's the fact that they said they'd no money to do things, then suddenly they can do this?

Oh and I'm sure there was something about having to put up the age for the over 60s bus no that long ago because it was costing to much?

The detail of how this is planned to work in Scotland will be interesting to read before any champagne corks go off and it's acclaimed as a brilliant move.

Why is it brilliant? Because it will enable under 19s to go bus-bashing for free?

I view it simply as a budget passing sweetener, this couple with the climate change provisions secures Scot Green support to pass the budget.

Oh for the days when the "consensus" parliament actually worked on that principle.

 

[ian1944]

I think that the Greens want too the cancellation of the Sheriffhall A720 flyover, which would save a bit of cash. But I've no idea if the two amounts of money are comparable.

 

[overthewater]

Parent will not let this happen. I do know, Im sure there is a few other people on this broad that can remember Free buses being in operation and lets just say kids went on jollies and parents went mad. That put a stop tot that..

 

[Alexbus12]

Parent will not let this happen. I do know, Im sure there is a few other people on this broad that can remember Free buses being in operation and lets just say kids went on jollies and parents went mad. That put a stop tot that..

They don't seem to complain in Manchester. Other than because it's part funded by JD and provides added bonuses such as discounts and vouchers. Tbf though, Manchester isn't really a good comparison to Scotland.

 

[mb88]

Worst thing they ever did was bring this in down in london. Thought I'd escaped it when I moved back home. We can all look forward to buses being mobbed with kids going on3 stop cos its free and no one else getting a look in at school kicking out time as every bus is packed full of kids. No doubt the next step will be to withdraw free school to home transport where an equivalent local service exists.

 

[MDB1images]

Why is it brilliant? Because it will enable under 19s to go bus-bashing for free?

Because if a generation starts to use public transport as a probable solution instead of the car the benefits are high for us all be it health, no traffic congestion/polution etc.

Like I said though, the detail is important as to how this is achieved.

 

[6Gman]

I think that the Greens want too the cancellation of the Sheriffhall A720 flyover, which would save a bit of cash. But I've no idea if the two amounts of money are comparable.

Free bus travel is revenue; building a flyover is capital. Unlikely to be any link.

 

[hexagon789]

Because if a generation starts to use public transport as a probable solution instead of the car the benefits are high for us all be it health, no traffic congestion/polution etc.

Like I said though, the detail is important as to how this is achieved.

Because if a generation starts to use public transport as a probable solution instead of the car the benefits are high for us all be it health, no traffic congestion/polution etc.

Like I said though, the detail is important as to how this is achieved.

Firstly most of those than can afford to drive and want to drive likely will for the convenience factor, secondly there are far more important things the money can go towards than giving U-19s free bus travel outside of reasonable circumstances for such to be provided as I outlined above.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

There has been a couple of instances at the moment where councils have ,with the young Scot card , changed it to free use . Falkirk is one but I think it was maybe certain card users , if they didn’t fund a school bus perhaps.maybe this was / is a test . So If there was a card issued that registered the journey and remuneration to the operator then is this the way to prevent misuse/ fraud that happens now

 

[GusB]

A scheme like this would certainly have been beneficial to me when I was younger. Due to the fact that I didn't attend a "zoned school", my parents had to pay for my travel costs while a neighbouring village was in the zone and people from there were issued with season tickets. When I turned 16 I had to then pay full-fare, although I was then able to benefit from the "Commuter Card" which gave unlimited point-to-point journeys and covered me for after-school activities like band practice, model railway club meetings etc.

If it can persuade a generation of young people to stop relying on ParentCabs to get around, I'm all for it. It also gives young people a bit more independence and may encourage some to go out and get part-time jobs and gain valuable work experience where previously travel costs would have been prohibitive.

Of course, this all depends on whether or not there are actually bus routes available to take them where they need to be, and the scheme does have to be properly funded.

 

[GusB]

Thread re-opened due to further developments.

 

[PG]

Thread re-opened due to further developments.

Thanks @GusB

Its been reported that the (yet to commence!) scheme is being extended to include 19-21 year olds, unsure when they'll be covered?

It will see the introduction of free school meals for all primary school pupils by August 2022, free bus travel for all under-22s, £15m for active travel and £10m for energy efficiency projects.

 

[Volvodart]

You cannot really see the under 19s scheme starting until social distancing has ended.