Travel Scheme should cover those on lower rate of disability
"The national concessionary travel scheme should be extended
to people on the lower rate of disability allowance," says Transport
Committee member and Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie.
"People who had previously qualified for free travel under local
and regional schemes and transitional arrangements are now excluded. This
became apparent once the transitional arrangements which preserved previous
entitlements came to an end last spring, but it was not the original intention.
Indeed, we had budgetted for their inclusion."
Cathy, whose call in parliament for the creation of the national scheme
became a manifesto commitment in 2003, noted that the vulnerable group
includes people with learning disabilities.
"This should be sorted quickly. Ministers should not force disabled
people, including youngsters between 16 and 25, to wait for a three year
review that won't even start until later this year. They should change
the rules now, so that all disabled people, including those on disability
allowance, can travel for free by the summer."
Cathy also expressed her concern that the Scottish government had announced
the abolition of the mobility and access committee which gives disabled
people a voice in transport planning.
The Committee, which is chaired by a person with a disability and is
required to have a majority of disabled people amongst its members will
be discontinued, with up to three places for those with a knowledge of
disability issues being brought onto the Public Transport Users Committee.
Disability groups are understandably furious about this dilution of current
arrangements which is at odds with the spirit of the Disability Equality
Duty. The First Minister when questioned was able to supply no adequate
response on this issue.
(February 2008)
Call for extension to travel scheme
Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has tackled Cabinet Secretary John Swinney
on the issue of discrimination against those who have difficulty taking
advantage of concessionary bus travel.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth appeared before
the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee.
Cathy, who is Deputy Convener of the Committee, pointed out that while
people aged 60 and over and disabled people can have a pass that gives
them free bus transport throughout Scotland, not everyone can take advantage
of this. Community transport providers address the needs of such people,
but are excluded from the scheme.
"A lobby in favour of community transport feels that people who have
a disability, or older people who are frail and less able to go to bus
stops, are discriminated against. Will you consider including community
transport projects in the free transport model?"
John Swinney acknowledged the problem and said that he was prepared to
consider whether such provision can conveniently be added to the concessionary
travel scheme.
"I am happy to examine the issue with Stewart Stevenson and will
respond to the committee accordingly. We must be mindful of many logistical
issues related to the concessionary bus scheme, but we can certainly give
an undertaking to consider that point."
"I'm glad he has agreed to look at the issue," said Cathy. "This
is an issue that has been raised within my constituency, and I shall certainly
be making sure that it is followed up."
(October 2007)
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