THE Scottish Government has committed to providing free bus travel for people seeking asylum by 2026, but why is the initiative so important to people seeking refuge in Scotland.
The Scottish Government first said it would expand free bus travel to people seeking asylum in 2023, but scrapped the proposal in 2024 as part of a series of cuts to public spending.
However, in October last year, MSPs voted in favour of a motion brought by the Scottish Greens, calling for the policy to be reintroduced “as soon as possible” with the transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, saying it would be restored by 2026.
The move comes after several years of campaigning by refugee-rights organisations, including the likes of Scottish Refugee Council (SRC), Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, JustRight Scotland and Maryhill Integration Network, for concessionary free bus travel for asylum seekers in Scotland.
The SRC said that extending free bus travel to people seeking asylum would provide “critical support” to an extremely vulnerable group of people living in abject poverty.
“Access to free public transport would mean no longer having to choose between buying food or travelling to a doctor’s appointment,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
Asylum seekers are unable to work under UK employment law, with some forced to live on as little as £1.36 a day.
Asylum support provides just £49.18 per week, or £8.86 per person per week if in supported accommodation.
Campaigners said this leaves people in the asylum system just £7.02 per day for the essentials, or just £1.36 in supported accommodation, for the essentials, including transport.
With the likes of a First Bus Glasgow day ticket costing £5.60, and the equivalent for Lothian Buses costing £5, campaigners say bus travel is far out of financial reach due to how little asylum seekers receive in support.
“Free bus travel would have a life-changing effect for people in the asylum system,” a SRC spokesperson said.
“It would help them attend vital appointments and provide easier access to English lessons, volunteering projects, places of worship, and social activities, which are crucial in helping to prevent isolation, improve mental health, and build support networks within their communities.
“The policy would also, in the long run, save public money by providing early access to health, social, and employability interventions.”
A 12-week pilot, led by Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, provided 150 asylum seekers in Glasgow with free bus travel over the summer in 2023.
One participant of the pilot said before the free travel, they used to “stay indoors all day” and that the ticket was a “lifesaver” as they were able to move more freely.
Another participant in the scheme explained that they suffered from depression and were aware that their mental health was in decline.
They went on to say the free pass helped improve their mental health as they were able to visit parts of Scotland's countryside they had previously not had access to.
“I single-handedly credit its availability for setting me back on the right path,” they said about the free travel.
“I was able to travel to places like Hogganfield Loch for a walk and fresh air and to gather my thoughts.
“I used the pass on five consecutive days over that period, visiting friends, discovering new places in Greater Glasgow and within a week I felt fine.
“Solitude is different from loneliness. Although I was often alone on my travels, I wasn't lonely, thanks to the Travel Pass”.
Another added: “The ticket has helped me greatly before I used to stay indoors all day as I cannot afford travelling around it has reduced my boredom, feeling better as I am currently on high blood pressure treatment the ticket is like a life saver.”
The city-wide pilot was hailed as a success amongst campaigners and acted as a springboard for the Scottish Government to announce the national pilot.
Refugee Sanctuary Scotland aims to relieve the destitution and promote the well-being of people within the asylum system in Scotland.
Ekta Marwaha, CEO at Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, said that the pilot providing free bus travel proved that it offers a wide variety of benefits to asylum seekers.
She said: “There is a great need for asylum seekers to have access to free bus travel.
“Through our pilot project, there were many benefits identified to having free travel for asylum seekers, including reducing isolation, enhancing integration, an overwhelming improvement on people's health and wellbeing and supporting people to mobilise themselves and access activities.
She added: “By having access to free travel for asylum seekers this has an overwhelmingly positive impact on their lives as they would ordinarily be excluded from using public transport because it would be unaffordable.”
While the motion to restore plans for free bus travel passed in Holyrood, the vote was non-binding. That means the Scottish Government is not obligated to act on its outcome.
In the meantime, some people seeking asylum in Scotland are still eligible for other concessionary travel schemes, including those under 22 and over 60 years old, as well as those with disabilities.
