Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed has called on the UK Government to consider offering unpaid carers free travel on public transport, while another urged the Department for Transport to extend free travel at peak times.
Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster called on the Department for Transport to evaluate the “potential merits of extending the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to peak travel times”. Meanwhile, Green Party MP Siân Berry questioned whether there are plans to “carry out a review of the eligibility criteria for bus passes for disabled people”.
Sheffield Central MP Ms Mohamed believes helping carers could ‘improve access to essential services and promote inclusivity for disabled people and those with chronic illnesses’. She also asked the Department for Transport if it would “make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing carers to accompany those they care for to travel free of charge on public transport”. In response, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood explained that the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) “provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of State Pension age (66)”.
He added: “The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.”
He concluded by saying: “An assessment has not been made of the potential impact of free travel for carers, however, local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as offering companion passes for those travelling with someone eligible for the ENCTS.”
The National Entitlement Card (NEC) in Scotland not only grants access to a variety of public services but also offers free bus travel for those over 60 and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme provides discounted fares on trains, the Subway, and ferries, reports the Daily Record.
However, the rules differ in England, where the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) has different eligibility and usage regulations. Recently, two MPs have approached the UK Government to suggest policy changes.
An online petition is now circulating, advocating for the ENCTS to emulate the Scottish model by offering free bus travel to everyone aged over 60. Petition founder Karen Hickman labels the current system as “unjust” and demands “equality for everyone over 60”.
She points out that outside London, English residents must wait until they reach the State Pension age of 66 to qualify for free bus travel, an age limit she argues has “changed dramatically.”
The ‘extend free bus travel for people over 60 in England’ e-petition is gaining traction, with more than 7,500 individuals having already shown their support by signing. Hosted on the petitions-parliament website, the petition is making waves as it edges closer to the 10,000-signature mark required for a written response from the UK Government and aims for the pivotal 100,000 signatures that would compel the Petitions Committee to consider it for debate in Parliament.
The petition’s message is clear: “We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.”
As it stands, those living outside of London in England cannot enjoy free bus travel until they hit the state pension age, a threshold the signatories feel is unfairly creeping upwards. Many of those aged over 60 are driving less, hence the growing demand for fairness in access to public transport benefits.
The signatories argue, “It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.” To throw your support behind the cause or get a better understanding, the e-petition can be viewed online.