Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance has welcomed new figures showing that almost 7.4 million free bus journeys have been taken by young people in West Lothian since the Scottish National Party’s under-22s free bus travel scheme was introduced in early 2022. Across Scotland, more than 310 million free bus journeys have now been made through the scheme.
Scheme Details and Impact
The SNP Scottish Government has consistently protected free bus travel for everyone aged over 60 and for disabled people, while also extending eligibility to injured veterans. By contrast, in England, pensioners only qualify for free bus travel when they reach the state pension age of 66, and there is no equivalent nationwide free bus travel scheme for under-22s.
The under-22s free bus travel scheme is helping young people across West Lothian access education, employment, training and other opportunities without the burden of travel costs. There is no equivalent scheme anywhere else in the UK.
MSP's Statement
Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance said: “The delivery of 7,390,982 free bus journeys for under-22s in West Lothian is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the SNP Scottish Government’s commitment to improving mobility for our young people.
“These free bus passes are a lifeline for many families, helping young people get to school, college, university, work and training, while also making it easier to access opportunities and stay connected with their communities.
“While there is no equivalent scheme elsewhere in the UK, Scotland is investing in our young people and helping to remove the cost of travel as a barrier to opportunity.
“The SNP remains committed to supporting communities across Scotland, and it’s important to celebrate the positive impact this policy is having, with 7,390,982 journeys made by young people in West Lothian contributing to more than 310 million free journeys across Scotland since the scheme began.”
