No rise in age for bus passes

THE Welsh Government has confirmed it is scrapping its plans to raise the age of eligibility for a concessionary bus pass by five years.

In July, 2019, the Government’s intention to gradually increase the age at which people could apply for a free bus pass, from 60 to 65, was confirmed by Transport Minister, Ken Skates.

The proposals, first put forward in a White Paper in 2018, pointed to the rising cost of providing a concessionary bus pass to the over-60s, and revealed that free bus travel under the current arrangement had cost the Government around £840m in 2016.

Free bus passes for the over-60s have been available in Wales since 2002.

A report earlier this year showed that there were around 730,000 passes allocated to people in Wales at the end of 2018, and the number of people eligible to apply for a pass is likely to be 880,000 by 2021.

The state pension age will rise to 67 by 2028.

Transport Minister, Ken Skates, suggested the jump to eligibility at 65 should be proposed under a new law by the end of 2019.

However, the plans were reversed during a cabinet meeting about the publication of the Government’s 2020-21 draft budget in November.

Helena Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, expressed concern when the plans were first announced, saying that bringing eligibility in line with state pension age would negatively impact the most vulnerable pensioners who rely on free bus travel.

She now welcomes the Government’s U-turn and is “delighted by the decision”.

“I consistently expressed my opposition to the proposals, and I welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has looked again at the potential impact of changing the eligibility age and has decided not to take this forward as part of the forthcoming Public Transport (Wales) Bill.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said: “In 2002, Wales became the first country in the UK to introduce free bus travel for older people.

“The policy has been a huge success and we are determined to ensure it continues to deliver benefits in the future.

“We will be doing further work to develop a more flexible and long-term approach towards fare concessions, considering financial implications and passenger need. As a result of this additional work, this policy area will not be included in the forthcoming bus legislation.”