Scots over 60 are saving more than £1,000 thanks to Scotland's lower bus pass qualification age than in England, new figures show. But younger Scots are still waiting for the introduction of a £2 cap on single bus journeys – a key SNP manifesto pledge.
Savings from earlier bus pass eligibility
Last year Scots over 60 made 78 million free bus journeys – an equivalent of 85 journeys per eligible person – saving £170 a year compared to if they lived in England, where the qualification for a free bus pass kicks in at 66.
Figures provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre show that even if applying the planned £2 bus cap in England, over the six-year period it would take someone to reach the English qualification age of 66, the total amount saved is £1,020.
£2 fare cap pledge in limbo
Single bus fares south of the Border outside of London will be capped at £2 from January next year, but there is no firm date for when such a scheme will be introduced across Scotland.
The £2 cap was due to be rolled out across the Strathclyde region including Glasgow – with John Swinney pledging during the election campaign it would happen in the "first 100 days" of a new SNP government. Holyrood ministers since appeared to downgrade this pledge to "making progress" on the ambition within their first 100 days in office, which runs until late August.
Government and SNP responses
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "Work is ongoing with partners, including operators, to progress a £2 bus fare cap to Glasgow, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde within the first 100 days of this government."
"We are also committed to bringing forward legislation for a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland by the end of this parliament, building on the evidence from the current pilot."
SNP MSP Claire Adamson said: "Under John Swinney’s government, Scots get a free bus pass at 60 compared to 66 in England saving more than £1000 a year."
"It is absolutely right we do all we can to support folk through this Westminster made cost of living crisis where people are continually isolated by the cost of essentials going up and up."
"We have ensured free bus travel for under 22s and over 60s while we are rolling out a £2 bus fare cap across the country – that’s what you get from an SNP government on Scotland’s side."
"The SNP will always take decisions to put the priorities of the people of Scotland first and that is exactly why we are using the powers we have to ease the burden on hard pressed households."
