WIREDGOV

The bus concessionary fare scheme will be maintained and funding for the Bus Services Operators Grant will be increased as a result of a new funding agreement with the bus industry.

The 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. The scheme will also provide incentives for operators to operate low carbon vehicles, including hybrid buses.

The reimbursement rate for the Concessionary fares scheme will be revised to 67 per cent following detailed independent analysis commissioned by the Scottish Government in response to one of the key recommendations emerging from the independent review of the scheme in May 2009.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our bus industry, and this agreement with CPT will deliver another three years of significant investment. This substantial outlay is intended to help the industry drive down fare costs, encourage more routes and enable more older and disabled people to use these important services.

"Older and disabled people will continue to be able to travel for free throughout Scotland - at any time, on any bus routes, for any number of journeys.

"The concessionary fares scheme will also be extended to include injured veterans from April 1, 2011.

"In these challenging economic times, it is important to protect passengers by minimising fare increases which is why we have decided to increase BSOG funding. 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.

"We have agreed to work with the Scottish bus industry this year to consider further changes to the BSOG scheme to better align the scheme with our vision of a low carbon future, by encouraging more drivers out of their cars and reducing emissions

"Latest data shows that Scotland provides 17 per cent more industry support per head of population than in England."

The reimbursement rate is being revised from 73.6 per cent to 67 per cent.

The review of the concessionary fare scheme was completed in May 2009 and looked at how the scheme operated since its introduction in April 2006, looking at what further improvements could be made.