Call for free transport to help quash poverty
YOUNG people under 25 should get free or cut-price public transport to help tackle inequality, according to the Scottish Government’s poverty advisor.
Naomi Eisenstadt proposed a range of measures which also include a Living Wage for everyone from age 18 upwards.
She said work was being done and discounted travels schemes exist but are fragmented and take up is low.
Ms Eisenstadt said: “A further problem with travel subsidies is that they are often restricted to off peak travel, which makes getting to college or work on time difficult. Linking the government travel discounts to the Young Scot card could also be beneficial, reducing stigma and ensuring a high rate of uptake, and might generate savings to devolved and reserved areas of government associated with young people’s travel.”
Pauline McNeill, Glasgow Labour MSP, has called for free or discounted travel for young people and is working on a bill to extend free or child fares for people aged above 16.
She said: “I am absolutely convinced by this. We should certainly be targeting teenagers and those in their early 20s. It has been an area of neglect in Government policy for many years.”
On the same day as the report was published the government announced it was setting up a Poverty and Inequality Commission, which Ms Eisenstadt will be deputy chair of. It will also include representation from people with experience of poverty.
The advisor said that poverty in adulthood was still deter- mined mostly by a child’s parents’ wealth and social class.
Her recommendations also include delivering more affordable housing options for young people, creating more flexibility for students to move between college and university courses, and funding research on mental health in school.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Naomi’s latest report ‘The Life Chances of Young People in Scotland’ provides useful challenge to the Scottish and UK governments to do more to improve the life chances of young people from less advantaged backgrounds and to build a fairer future.”
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, added: “With the latest figures on poverty and inequality showing significant increases, there is an urgent need for more concerted action.”