Pensioners Still Losing Out

A new system of free off peak local bus transport sees English pensioners clear losers over their Scottish contemporaries.

Nearly one million (924,000) Scottish women over 60 and Scottish men over 65 are set to benefit from free local off-peak bus travel from 1 October as a result of a new commitment and funding from the Scottish Executive.

Meanwhile the majority of English pensioners are having to put their hands in their pockets and pay for half price bus travel, something that too many of them can ill afford.


Research by University of Paisley Centre of Gerontology this year found that 27% of older people found the high cost of public transport acted as a barrier to its use. The Government's own Social Exclusion Unit's interim report on transport in 2002 found that "The money people spend on transport may leave them with little disposable income. In extreme circumstances people may be left isolated and housebound."

Free bus travel in Scotland is just the latest example where Scottish pensioners are receiving a better deal than English pensioners.
Other reforms in Scotland include:
 

• Free central heating for all older people currently living in housing without central heating, whether privately owned or social housing
   
• Free personal care - such as help with washing, eating and getting dressed

Local and Metropolitan authorities in England and Wales can decide whether to implement free off peak transport. The only pensioners in England who benefit from free off peak bus and other local transport networks live in London, Merseyside, the West Midlands, Nottingham, Reading and Crawley. Their neighbours in all other cities, towns and local areas have to pay.
 

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