Skip to main content

Written question asked by Jane Hunt (Conservative) on Monday, 13 May 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 May 2024. It was answered by Guy Opperman (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 May 2024 on behalf of the Department for Transport.


Bus Services: Concessions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the eligibility age for a free bus pass to 60.

Answer

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those who have reached state pension age, currently aged sixty-six. ENCTS costs around £1 billion annually and any changes to the minimum statutory scheme, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations and extend free bus travel to those not eligible for ENCTS, however, these additional concessions are not funded by central government but by local authorities from local resources, such as council tax. Since 2010/11 almost all of the travel concession authorities in England have offered some form of discretionary concession.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26010
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Bus services Age Concessions
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk