Dundee West Labour
3 February 2020
Today (Monday) Scottish Labour is calling on the SNP to enshrine free bus travel for all under 25's in Scotland in this year’s Scottish budget.
By introducing free bus travel for under 25’s the use of public transport would increase, reducing the number of polluting car journeys and opening up new opportunities for the young people of Scotland.
The Scottish Government estimate the cost of free bus travel for all under 25’s at around £230 million which Scottish Labour argues can be taken from the £1.2 billion the SNP government will receive in additional consequentials under the Barnett Formula.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth said:
“It was Scottish Labour that delivered the free bus pass for older people which has been a huge success.
"It’s now time to expand that for Scotland’s young people.
“The cost of travel has become a barrier to opportunity.
"The ability to pay should not determine young people’s access to education, to jobs and to social and leisure activities: with this policy we can end that once and for all.
“ This policy will begin to reverse the long-term decline in bus usage which has seen our bus network being dismantled route by route across Scotland.
"Such a transformational change would not only boost passenger numbers, but help deliver the long-term cultural change we need by encouraging people at an early age to use public transport
“ This policy makes sense for our young people, for our economy, and, crucially, for the health of the planet.
“We call on the SNP government to listen to and work with Scottish Labour to develop this policy and help open up new windows of opportunity for the young people of Scotland.”
Today (Monday) Scottish Labour is calling on the SNP to enshrine free bus travel for all under 25's in Scotland in this year’s Scottish budget.
By introducing free bus travel for under 25’s the use of public transport would increase, reducing the number of polluting car journeys and opening up new opportunities for the young people of Scotland.
The Scottish Government estimate the cost of free bus travel for all under 25’s at around £230 million which Scottish Labour argues can be taken from the £1.2 billion the SNP government will receive in additional consequentials under the Barnett Formula.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Transport Spokesperson Colin Smyth said:
“It was Scottish Labour that delivered the free bus pass for older people which has been a huge success.
"It’s now time to expand that for Scotland’s young people.
“The cost of travel has become a barrier to opportunity.
"The ability to pay should not determine young people’s access to education, to jobs and to social and leisure activities: with this policy we can end that once and for all.
“ This policy will begin to reverse the long-term decline in bus usage which has seen our bus network being dismantled route by route across Scotland.
"Such a transformational change would not only boost passenger numbers, but help deliver the long-term cultural change we need by encouraging people at an early age to use public transport
“ This policy makes sense for our young people, for our economy, and, crucially, for the health of the planet.
“We call on the SNP government to listen to and work with Scottish Labour to develop this policy and help open up new windows of opportunity for the young people of Scotland.”