Written Question · S6W-05576 · Session 6
In light of the reported comments by the Minister for Transport in September 2021 regarding the forthcoming launch of its scheme for free b…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported comments by the Minister for Transport in September 2021 regarding the forthcoming launch of its scheme for free bus travel for under 22s, whether it has developed a more robust system of estimating usage and uptake, or whether it is still relying on "guesstimates"; if it does have any more robust estimates, whether it plans to publish these; whether it has undertaken any analysis of whether providing such free bus travel will result in fare rises for other passengers, since this issue was raised during the meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 28 September 2021, and, if so, whether it will publish this analysis.
The answer
Transport Scotland has set out a Stage 1 and Stage 2 evaluation of the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme following the first full year of operation. The evaluation will assess the short and medium outcomes and the long term impact of the scheme by comparing conditions at different stages.
During the first year of operation (Stage1), short term outcomes of the scheme such as uptake of entitlement and travel behaviour will be evaluated. Uptake of the scheme will be monitored directly through the application process, which launched on 10 January 2022, and data on usage of the entitlement will be collected through recording of journeys made using the National Entitlement Card. Reports from this evaluation will be published on the Transport Scotland website.
It is an objective of the free bus schemes that bus operators should be financially no better and no worse off as a result of their participation. This objective should mean that there are not subsequent fare pressures on fare paying passengers as a result of the scheme. We have worked with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to arrive at reimbursement rates which seek to meet this aim. Usage of the Young Persons Scheme will be closely monitored to refine the reimbursement model as necessary.
During the first year of operation (Stage1), short term outcomes of the scheme such as uptake of entitlement and travel behaviour will be evaluated. Uptake of the scheme will be monitored directly through the application process, which launched on 10 January 2022, and data on usage of the entitlement will be collected through recording of journeys made using the National Entitlement Card. Reports from this evaluation will be published on the Transport Scotland website.
It is an objective of the free bus schemes that bus operators should be financially no better and no worse off as a result of their participation. This objective should mean that there are not subsequent fare pressures on fare paying passengers as a result of the scheme. We have worked with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to arrive at reimbursement rates which seek to meet this aim. Usage of the Young Persons Scheme will be closely monitored to refine the reimbursement model as necessary.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-05576 by reference.