SUBSIDIES * UK - Companies taking taxpayer for a ride over free bus trips
Scottish Government subsidises fares for the over 60s but calls have been made to increase the qualifying age to 65
Scotland,UK -The Herald Scotland, by Damien Henderson -9 Aug 2010: -- Bus companies are facing renewed accusations of profiteering from a Scottish Government-backed concessionary bus travel scheme after new figures showed they were paid a record £187 million from it last year despite a drop in passenger numbers... Conservative Party Transport spokesman, Jackson Carlaw, claimed that the bill for providing free trips aboard the services for the over-60s and disabled passengers jumped to £186.8m – a £24m increase on two years previously – although 7.5 million fewer journeys were made during that time... Mr Carlaw, who obtained the figures in response to a parliamentary question, said they fuelled claims that bus firms are making excess profits on the back of the flagship scheme and prompted renewed calls for the Scottish Government to limit its scope... The Scottish Government has refused to follow in the footsteps of Westminster, where access to free bus travel is gradually being withdrawn from those aged between 60 and 65, despite an independent budgetary review last month recommending such a reform.Labels: subsidies
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