Question reference: S5W-35584
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 26 February 2021
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Current status: Holding Answer by Michael Matheson on 12 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with its commitment to deliver free bus travel to all under-19s.
Answer
The draft National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Young Persons (Scotland) Order 2021 was laid in Parliament on 21 January and approved on 3 March 2021. This will enable the creation of a new scheme to provide free bus travel to all Scottish residents aged under 19.
The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders, including bus operators, local authorities, the Improvement Service, the National Entitlement Card Programme Office (NECPO) and Young Scot, in order to make the new scheme operational as soon as practicable in 2021-22.
We have also committed to make as much progress as possible during 2021-22 to deliver free bus travel to under 22s and have allocated an additional £17 million in the Budget for this purpose.