Written question WQ99551
- Asked by
- Dan ThomasReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 14 days
Question
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to having discussions with the UK Government, Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive about making all older person's bus passes usable across the United Kingdom?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport (Mark Hooper)
Whilst the Welsh Government remain open to the suggestion of cross border concessionary travel cards, our immediate priority is to maintain funding for our existing Welsh Concessionary Travel scheme, which is more generous than the qualifying criteria and times of use in England. Our scheme provides free local bus travel for eligible elderly and disabled people on local bus services across Wales, and passes are also valid on cross border bus services linking Wales and England.
Officials continue to discuss the idea of a cross-border scheme with their counterparts in other UK jurisdictions. However, there has been limited appetite to bring forward such a scheme to date due to funding pressures and differences between the various schemes. We will continue to keep the issue under review and should the opportunity arise positively consider such a move.