Review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People

Hi Kate

We have been working with a few MSPs regarding the review of the concessionary travel scheme and as a result Des McNulty has tabled a motion (which he wants to be taken for a members debate). To make sure this gets the most support as possible we have produced a campaign letter for people to send to their MSP, all they have to do is fill in the name of their MSP and sign off their own name. "MSP letter Travel scheme".

People can use the following link to find out who their MSP is http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/MSPAddressPostcodeFinder.htm

It would be great if members of the CPG could send the letter out to their contacts list to help ensure that as many MSPs as possible sign up to the motion. "MSP letter Travel scheme".

Best regards

Ryan

The motion is below:

*S3M-4780# Des McNulty: Concessionary Travel—That the Parliament welcomes the recommendation of the Review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People to include seriously injured armed forces veterans in the scheme but notes with disappointment and concern the review’s recommendation that appears to disenfranchise disabled people who receive the lower rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the scheme; further notes that the review paints a worst-case scenario of the costs of including disabled people who receive the lower rate of DLA, that the methods used to arrive at these projected costs is questionable and that the review also played down the positive social impact that the scheme has on people’s lives; considers that denying disabled people on the lower rate of DLA access to the scheme will damage the main aims and ethos of the scheme, namely to allow disabled people improved access to services, facilities and social networks by free scheduled bus services and so promote social inclusion and improve health by promoting a more active lifestyle for disabled people; notes that previous local schemes operated in Strathclyde and West Lothian provided people on the lower rate of DLA access to concessionary travel schemes and that they supported the national scheme, mirroring its eligibility criteria instead of the stringent criteria that are now adopted; supports disability organisations Leonard Cheshire Disability, Learning Disability Alliance Scotland (LDAS), Inclusion Scotland and many more in challenging the review’s negative recommendation; considers that disabled people’s views and those of the organisations that represent them should be taken into account, and believes that the recommendation on eligibility contained in the review is unfair and that that the national concessionary travel scheme should include those in receipt of the lower rate of DLA.

Ryan McQuigg 
Policy & Parliamentary Officer- Scotland
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Telephone: 0131 346 9040
Email: ryan.mcquigg@LCDisability.org
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