Dundee Liberal Democrats welcome new free nationwide bus travel launch
Dundee Liberal Democrats welcomed today's launch of the new national concessionary travel scheme - the launch in Edinburgh was led by LibDem Transport Minister, Tavish Scott MSP.
Under the new scheme, more than one million older and disabled people will be eligible for new concessionary bus passes that allow travel anywhere in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has said that 85% of over-60s would benefit from the scheme, which is due to begin on 1 April 2006.
Tavish Scott said today,"I'm delighted that so many older Scots are planning to take advantage of the new scheme. This is a major initiative by the devolved Government of Scotland and will provide greater travel choice as well as connecting people and communities up and down the country."
Here in Dundee, LibDem Council Group Leader Cllr Fraser Macpherson said, "This is really good news for older Dundee citizens. The current local scheme will be improved upon and the differing rules between local authorities' scheme will disappear, meaning that older citizens will get the same transport rights no matter where they live in Scotland."