Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
This report details the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee's consideration of the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019.
The Committee agreed to recommend to the Parliament that it approves the draft instrument.
The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows—
On 25 January 2019, the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019 [draft] was laid before the Parliament and was subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (“the Scheme”) provides an entitlement to free bus travel for people in Scotland age 60 and over or meeting certain disability-related criteria. In line with the Scheme objectives, operators can be reimbursed for the costs of carrying concessionary passengers provided they are left no better or no worse off through their participation in the Scheme. This complies with EU rules relating to state aid.
This instrument sets out the capped level of funding and reimbursement rate for bus operators in the concession scheme in 2019-20.
In 2019-20, the reimbursement rate will be 56.5% (of the adult single fare) and the capped level of funding will be £213.65 million. The corresponding figures for 2018-19 are 56.8% and £202.1 million. The funding cap for 2019-20 is over 5% higher than for 2018-19.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform (DPLR) Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 5 February 2019 and agreed not to draw the Parliament's attention to the instrument on any grounds within its remit.
At its 8th meeting of 2019, held on 6 March, the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee took evidence on this instrument from Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, and his officials.
In its discussions with the Cabinet Secretary, the Committee considered details of the eligibility, the financial cap, and fraud analysis of the scheme.
The Cabinet Secretary subsequently moved the following motion in his name—
S5M-15754—That the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee recommends that the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019 [draft] be approved.
The Committee agreed the motion without division.
The Official Report of the meeting is available for further information.
The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee recommends to the Parliament that National Bus Travel Concessionary Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Amendment Order 2019 [draft] be approved.