McInnes questions SNP over concessionary fares scheme

1.27.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes has condemned the Transport Minister for his misleading comments about funding for the concessionary fares scheme.

When questioned about the forthcoming review of the concessionary fares scheme on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland, the Transport Minister insisted that his Government was putting more money into the scheme. Parliamentary Answers clearly show that the SNP is slashing the concessionary fares budget over the next three years.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"The Concessionary Fares Scheme, introduced by a Liberal Democrat Transport Minister, has made a real difference to passengers across Scotland.

"Reports that the SNP intend to cap fare reimbursement are extremely worrying. Bus operators may be forced to put up fares to keep this scheme running.

"The SNP's bluster that they will not restrict the scheme is undermined by the Transport Minister's refusal to acknowledge that its funding will be cut.

"The Transport Minister was deliberately misleading on radio this morning. Despite his claims that 'far from cutting the money for the bus scheme, we have actually increased it ', Parliamentary Answers show that funding for the Concessionary Fares Scheme is being slashed over the next three years. The Scottish Government has also frozen investment in bus services for the next three years.

"Why should passengers believe the SNP that the future of the concessionary fares scheme is safe, when the Minister responsible refuses to acknowledge that vital funding for the scheme has been cut?"