Free bus pass age will rise

Not all policies of the old Labour government will be dropped by the new Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition. One that is being kept is ex-chancellor Alistair Darling’s plan to raise the minimum free bus pass age to 65. The new Transport Secretary is happy to see the age of eligibility raised by five years from 60.

The original intention to raise the age was announced by Mr Darling in his last Budget in March of this year, with the rise taking place over a period of ten years, rising alongside the increase in retirement age.

Debate between the parties has been heated at times on the topic of free bus passes, especially during the election campaign, but it has boiled down to the coalition agreeing with Labour that the age of free bus pass eligibility needs to rise.

A Department of Transport spokesman of the new government said: “The Government is committed to protecting free bus travel for older people, as set out in the coalition agreement.

“Our efforts are focused on finding efficiencies through reforming the administrative and reimbursement arrangements of the scheme. This is being examined as part of the Spending Review.”

Savings from the increase in buss pass age is forecast to make a saving of £60 million a year of the estimated £1 billion annual cost.

What's this?