The UK government has responded to the growing demand for an expansion of concessionary bus travel in England. Campaigners have been asking for free bus travel comparable to what’s available in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, where it’s offered to those over 60 rather than the current threshold of 66 in England.
A petition calling for the reduction of the eligible age for free bus travel in England has been gaining traction on the Parliament website. Additionally, the debate has now been extended to include disabled users and their access to free bus travel at any time.
Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper posed a key question to the Secretary of State for Transport: “Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme to provide free anytime bus travel to all disabled bus pass holders.”
In response, Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), acknowledged the matter but highlighted financial considerations. He explained: “The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the times of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
“Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under the ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, such as extending the travel time criteria for the ENCTS. The Department for Transport’s concessionary travel statistics for the year ending March 2025, report that 60% of travel concession authorities provide discretionary concessions for disabled concessionary passholders to travel before 9.30am and after 11pm.”
A petition calling for free bus travel in England to be extended to those aged 60 has nearly reached 30,000 signatures. The petition, initiated by Karen Hickman, argues that it is unjust that individuals in England do not receive the same travel privileges on the bus network as those over 60 in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The petition states: “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.
“Currently, people in England who do not live in London are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach the state pension age, which we believe has changed dramatically. As people get older some over 60s drive less and less, therefore we believe we need equality on public transport. It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
The Department for Transport has issued a response after a petition surpassed 10,000 signatures, outlining its policy stance. Should the petition reach over 100,000 signatures, it may trigger a debate in Parliament.
Officials from the Department for Transport have cautioned that the current English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, which provides free off-peak travel for those over 66 in England, comes with a hefty price tag of £700 million per year.
They noted that while local authorities can offer extra concessions, and places like London and Merseyside do provide free travel for those over 60, there are significant financial implications to extending this benefit across all of England. This is despite similar schemes being adopted by the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The Department for Transport said: “The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme costs around £700 million annually. Any changes to the statutory scheme must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability.”
They added, “The government wants everyone to have access to public transport and is committed to improving services. We also recognise the importance of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) in supporting local bus travel, assisting with access to essential local services and helping those who use it to stay active and avoid isolation.
“The ENCTS provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.
“Local authorities in England do have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by extending the age of eligibility for the older persons’ bus pass. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”
The petition has already garnered 29,000 signatures, and if it reaches 100,000, it could potentially be debated in Parliament. To add your signature, click here.