Still Waiting campaign lauded in Parliamentary debate

The Scottish Parliament today debated a motion by North East Scotland MSP Alison McInnes inviting members to support Age Scotland's Still Waiting campaign.  The campaign calls for the National Concessionary Travel scheme - the free bus pass for older and disabled people - to be extended to community transport services.

Alison McInnes said the issue "is fundamentally one of fairness" as for a significant minority of those eligible for a pass "it is invalid on the services they rely on, and they have a bus pass that's worthless."  She said the Still Waiting proposal was "virtuous, and about getting equal dibs for all our older citizens, wherever they live."

The campaign, and the work of Age Scotland and community transport services, was commended by Anne McTaggart, Nanette Milne, Elaine Murray, Alison Johnstone, Christine Graham and Iain Gray.  Elaine Murray said it wasn't until the Still Waiting campaign that she had fully appreciated how lack of access to transport contributed to poorer quality of life for older people in urban, as well as rural, areas.

Jim Eadie questioned whether the change Still Waiting proposed should be the priority, given evidence from some community transport providers to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee that replacing vehicles was their most pressing issue.  However Iain Gray said: "If we asked commercial bus providers how things should be funded they wouldn't say the National Concessionary Travel scheme either," and called for debate to be driven by the needs of older and disabled people.

Christine Graham was sympathetic with Age Scotland's suggestion that extending eligibility to community transport might be funded by raising eligibility in line with State Pension Age, so long as "it's not done retrospectively, and it's not means tested." She also called for more information on the cost of extension and future savings, saying "demand will go up, as there's no doubt people are rationing community transport usage currently."

Transport and Veterans Minister Keith Brown welcomed the "generally consensual" tone of the debate, recognised the important role of community transport services, and paid tribute to "the dedicated volunteers who make up the backbone of community transport." He said: "There are some practical issues around what the campaign is asking, above affordability," but also that he would be listening to points as campaign continues, and to the report of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee.  He said the proposal to fund the change by raising age eligibility was "an honest position," but not currently one shared by the Government, and  emphasised the role of Local Authorities in providing local solutions for accessible transport.

Age Scotland spokesperson Doug Anthoney said: "We're thrilled at the strong support across the parties for the campaign, and the recognition among MSPs that community transport is a lifeline service for many older people.  We hear the Scottish Government's concerns about cost on the basis that demand for community transport is likely to soar should it become free to pass holders.  However we would argue the cost of allowing this demand to stay suppressed will in the long run be far greater, as more older people remaining socially isolated will translate into more hospital patients and residential care service users. 

"Of course extending the scheme won't be a panacea for under-investment in community transport, however it will create a reliable additional income stream that will help community transport to thrive, and the providers we have spoken to are supportive of our campaign. While there may well be technical and administrative challenges, we don't believe these are insurmountable or a reason not to make the change we propose."

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