FREE bus travel for elderly and disabled people will receive long-term funding to secure its future despite an official report questioning affordability, the Scottish Government has pledged.
And instead of reducing the benefit, transport minister Stewart Stevenson has announced it will be extended to military veterans below the age of 60.
Concerns about the scheme, which allows pensioners to travel by bus anywhere in Scotland, came af
ter the government-commissioned report called into question its long-term viability.
The review was a commitment made by the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration to assess how the scheme had been operating since its introduction in April 2006, and look at ways to improve it.
The report recommended no immediate change beyond extending the scope of the scheme to injured forces veterans from April 2011.
But it suggested the Scottish Government look at the long-term possibility of downgrading, changing eligibility or restricting travel periods.
Mr Stevenson accepted the proposal to extend the scheme to veterans, but made it clear there would be no downgrading of the scheme nor would eligibility be made more difficult in the short or long term.
"The concessionary fares scheme has been a widespread success, bringing free travel to elderly and disabled people across Scotland," he said.
"I'm delighted to extend it so that injured veterans will be able to enjoy the benefits of free bus travel from spring 2011.
"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. This will be a welcome boost in these difficult economic times and this government is taking action to help householders, families and pensioners weather the current economic downturn."
Currently, about one million cards are in issue, and bus operators are reimbursed with just under 74 per cent of the cost of a full adult single ticket.
The cost for the 2009-10 financial year is expected to be about £194-£198 million. The report warned: "This would exceed the current Scottish Government budget for the period."
The report also said "conflict" may arise between commuters and bus-pass holders during peak times, so the scheme could hinder efforts to encourage people to give up their cars.
"Restricting travel for card holders to the non-peak travelling periods would still see benefits for concessionary card holders while improving the travel experience for commuters, thereby encouraging bus travel and promoting modal shift," it added.
Labour welcomed Mr Stevenson's commitment and called on the SNP to extend the scheme to all disabled people.
Labour transport spokesman Des McNulty said: "Alex Salmond was in danger of going down in history as the First Minister who shoved Scotland's grannies off the bus.
"I am delighted he has responded to pressure by Labour and announced that pensioners will continue to get free bus travel."
