An online petition, rapidly garnering support with more than 4,900 signatures, is calling for the expansion of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) to replicate Scotland’s policy of free bus travel for those aged over 60. Despite the Department for Transport’s assurance last year that there are “absolutely no plans to withdraw the concessionary bus pass scheme”, which benefits those above the State Pension age and disabled individuals, campaigners have dubbed the current arrangement “unjust”.
Petiton creator Karen Hickman is leading the charge for “equality for everyone over 60”, highlighting the discrepancy faced by residents in England – particularly outside London – where the free bus travel eligibility is pegged to the State Pension age, now at 66 years old. She asserts that this benchmark has “changed dramatically.”
The plea on the petitions-parliament website reads: “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.”
The ‘extend free bus travel for people over 60 in England’ petition is currently live on the petitions-parliament website. The petition, which has already garnered over 10,000 signatures, thereby warranting a written response from the UK Government, calls for equality in free bus travel for all individuals over 60 years old in England outside London, reports Lancs Live.
If it reaches 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee may consider it for a debate in Parliament. The petition reads: “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.”
The Daily Record reports that this would bring England in line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Currently, the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is available to two main groups – older individuals and those with eligible disabilities. Both men and women qualify for concessionary travel in England upon reaching the state pension age, while in Scotland, this age is set at 60.
However, eligibility for concessionary travel can vary based on local authorities and the specific terms of the concessionary travel scheme in place.
In a blow to the 12.9 million pensioners across the UK, the Labour Government has been urged to mull over the “potential merits of a reciprocal agreement between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland” for free bus travel with their passes.
Despite Labour MP Elsie Blundell bringing this issue to the fore with the Department for Transport, the response from Transport Minister Simon Lightwood was less than promising.
In his written statement, he pointed out that the concessionary travel scheme is a “devolved policy area” highlighting the different “administrative arrangements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ from those in England”. He clarified: “There are no plans at present to introduce such an arrangement”.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope as the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 does include clauses that could potentially allow for the mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes throughout the UK in the future.