John Swinney’s SNP Government will announce its Budget next month.
The Scottish Greens have named free bus travel for everyone under 30 as the price for supporting the SNP Budget. New party leader Ross Greer said extending the flagship policy would be a cost of living lifeline for young people.
The Greens and the SNP made buses free for under 22s when the parties shared power in Government. But the Bute House Agreement collapsed two years later and negotiations on all areas have been on a case-by-case basis.
First Minister John Swinney’s Government will unveil its pre-election Budget in January and the horse-trading has begun. With the UK Government scrapping the two child benefit cap, over £100m has become available within the SNP Government’s budget.
Greer said extending free buses would cost £105m and help tackle the climate crisis. He said: “The Greens’ introduction of free bus travel for everyone under 22 has been a huge success. Hundreds of thousands of young people are saving money, finding new opportunities, and helping to tackle the climate crisis.
“This scheme is one of the clearest achievements of the Scottish Parliament. Families across the country have saved thousands of pounds in a period when bills and other costs have otherwise soared.
“But the cost of living crisis doesn’t stop for people the day they turn 22. For many young people the impact of losing their bus pass is huge, with new travel costs eating into their budgets.”
He added: “Too many workers in their 20s are trapped in a cycle of ever-rising costs and insecure work, with far too many struggling to cover their rent and bills every month.
“Lowering the cost of public transport is a win-win for people and planet. That’s why the Scottish Greens are pushing for more people to get a free bus pass as soon as possible.”
Children and young people have now made over 250 million free bus journeys since the under-22 policy came into force.
Over 80% of eligible young people have access to the scheme through an entitlement card.
The SNP Government earlier this year scrapped peak rail fares as a cost of living measure.
The draft Scottish Budget is usually announced in December but was delayed until the New Year due to a shift in the UK Budget.
The tax and spending plans are expected to be subjected to fast track scrutiny ahead of the Holyrood election.
Greer’s party is normally the Budget kingmaker, but sources believe Scottish Labour could abstain, a move that would allow the plan to become law.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers are committed to building as broad support as possible across Parliament in order to deliver the forthcoming budget. Engagement with all parties is ongoing ahead of the draft budget being set out in the Scottish Parliament on 13 January.”
