Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Free bus pass scheme for young Scots branded 'missed opportunity' as just one in three sign up

A flagship policy to offer free bus passes to young Scots has been branded a "missed opportunity" after fewer than one in three of those eligible signed-up for the scheme.

Anyone aged under 22 is able to register for a card that allows unlimited travel on local bus routes.

The scheme was introduced in January and was the result of a budget deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens.

Ministers had hoped it would allow young people greater flexibility to find work or further education opportunities by removing the cost barrier of travel.

But figures obtained by Scottish Labour show that just 30 per cent of people under 22 have now claimed their pass.

Critics of the scheme claim the application process is too complicated and is putting off people from applying.

Neil Bibby, Labour's transport spokesman, said take-up was highest in Inverclyde where the council has urged schools to help pupils register.

The MSP called on the Scottish Government to "streamline" the application process.

Bibby said: “Free bus passes for young people should have been a good news story but these dire figures are a humiliation for the SNP and the Greens, who have spent years talking about this card but still failed miserably to deliver it.

“The botched scheme is a huge missed opportunity, which could have unlocked opportunities for children and young people, eased the cost of living crisis for families, and helped us tackle the climate emergency.

“Instead, the SNP’s rampant incompetence has let a rare good news story descend into chaos – and it is young people who are paying the price.

“Labour-run Inverclyde Council has led the way and proved that their approach works. The Scottish Government must streamline the process and support other Councils to end the postcode lottery.

“It is time to finally deliver on this years-old promise so that no more children and young people miss out.”

A spokesman for Jenny Gilruth, the Scottish Government's transport minister, said: "Labour and Mr Bibby appear to have forgotten that in January of this year Scotland, like many other nations, was in the grip of the omicron variant.

"Of course this impacted on the roll out of the under-22s scheme initially.

"Nevertheless, since the end of January, over 6 million journeys have been made and over 300,000 cards issued under the new scheme.

"The Improvement Service, which runs he online application scheme has made a number of changes to the process.

"The transport minister has said that she will continue to monitor the situation is not ruling out making further changes to the scheme if that is what is needed.

"Extending free bus travel to all of Scotland’s children and young people under 22 is ultimately about making public transport more affordable, helping to improve access to education, leisure, and work, while supporting them to travel sustainably.

"While Labour carp from the side-lines, the Scottish Government is supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis. We are determined to ensure all children and young people who benefit most from free bus travel don’t miss out."

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.