The Petition of residents of North Yorkshire,
Declares that restricting the use of disabled persons’ bus passes during peak hours is unfair and places additional barriers on disabled people, who already face significant structural and societal inequalities, including higher living costs and limited transport options.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to allow disabled people to use their bus passes at all times of day, including during peak hours, to promote fairness, independence, and equal access to public transport.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tom Gordon, Official Report, 08 September 2025; Vol. 772, c. 689.]
[P003099]
Observation from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood):
The Government want everyone to have access to public transport and are committed to improving bus services. We also recognise the importance of the English national concessionary travel scheme (ENCTS) in supporting local bus travel, assisting with access to essential local services and helping those who use the scheme to stay active and avoid isolation.
The ENCTS provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age between 9.30 am and 11.00 pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. The duration of the concessionary period was set out in the Transport Act 2000. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, including extending the hours of use, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. Therefore, the Government do not have any current plans to remove the time restriction.
Local authorities in England do have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by allowing the ENCTS pass to be used outside of the statutory hours. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.
According to concessionary travel statistics for the year ending March 2025, approximately 78% of local authorities extended the beginning of the statutory time period (9.30 am) during weekdays, including, for example, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority area, where concessionary passholders can travel for free on local bus services at all hours. In addition, during August, Greater Manchester combined authority ran a trial allowing ENCTS pass holders to travel on buses before 9.30 am. They are planning another trial in November where ENCTS passes will be valid at all times of day. Various similar schemes also exist in other parts of the country.
At the autumn 2024 Budget, the Government confirmed a £1 billion boost for buses, of which £712 million has been allocated to local authorities to support and improve bus services. York and North Yorkshire combined authority has been allocated £12.7 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services for passengers can be used in whichever way they wish, including extending the hours of use for concessionary bus passes locally.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this spending review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 26/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.