McMillan and Nelson Welcome Bus Funding Package

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) and Councillor Innes Nelson, have welcomed a new funding agreement between the Scottish Government and the bus industry.

The agreement will see the concessionary fare scheme maintained and with effect from 1 April 2011, extended for the first time to include injured services veterans. It will also see new incentives for operators to operate low carbon vehicles, including hybrid buses.

The increased funding package was agreed following discussions between the Scottish Government and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT). Funding for the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), which benefits passengers by helping support the bus network and keeping fares affordable, will increase to 66.5 million in 2010-11.

Speaking after the agreement was announced Mr McMillan said;

"Free bus travel has been an enormous success since it began. With this agreement, not only will people continue to benefit in the years ahead, but fares will also be kept as low as possible for everyone else.

A great many people in Inverclyde have benefited from the concessionary fares scheme since it was introduced and this year I'm particularly pleased to see that this is now going to be extended to include injured service veterans.

"As well as supporting the elderly and disabled the SNP are committed to supporting veterans injured in the line of duty. That support for veterans can be seen in a range of public services in Scotland."

Councillor Innes Nelson said;

"This agreement means that older and disabled people will continue to be able to travel for free throughout Inverclyde and Scotland - at any time, on any bus routes, for any number of journeys.

"In these challenging economic times, it is important to protect passengers by minimising fare increases. Reducing emissions from transport is key to achieving our world leading climate change targets and a shift to low carbon buses will make an important contribution to reducing emissions.

"Not only does it give some of the most vulnerable in society a greater degree of freedom, it also gives them a little more cash in their pockets."