- Conference
- 2004 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 25 February 2004
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference notes the success of the free bus travel system in Wales which has extended travel to all persons aged over 60 and disabled people.
The Welsh system allows travel on any one, or a series of, buses for journeys beginning and ending in Wales.
The benefits have been substantial and have led to an increase in provision of services, particularly in rural areas.
It is not just the eligible groups who have benefited. Additional services have opened up employment opportunities to those living in rural settings and without their own transport. Overall a great improvement in social inclusion has been achieved.
Conference believes a free concessionary travel scheme which is universal across the whole of the UK should be introduced, but as a precursor the experience of the Welsh national scheme should be used as an example across the government regions within the UK that a more widely acceptable scheme is workable but more importantly would benefit the community.
Conference therefore calls upon the National Executive Council to lobby Westminster and the devolved governments for similar schemes to be established, and to work with the TUC, STUC, ICTU and National Pensionsers’ Convention and appropriate pressure groups towards this end.