To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend that local authorities standardise the criteria on which a person with reduced mobility is granted a disabled persons’ buspass and, if so, whether it will recommend that the defining criterion is a letter from a doctor rather than the receipt of mobility allowance.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to do so. The existing powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 allow local authorities to establish concessionary fares schemes for eligible categories including disabled people. These powers are discretionary and decisions on the extent of such schemes including the eligibility criteria are solely for the local authorities taking account of needs and circumstances.