So the news has come out over the last 48 hours that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is bringing a policy from Mayor of Greater Manchester to the national scene, and a feature withdrawn by Hampshire County Council returns.
From 1st April 2027, the Disabled National Concessionary Bus Pass will be valid at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The scheme is apparently going to cost £60 Million and the money will come jointly from the Department for Transport and the Department for Work and Pensions.
From the notes included in the Government announcement it appears that the local authorities will continue to implement and manage the schemes as they do now, so I do not know whether this will mean that passes will be valid all-day, every-day all over England, or whether it will still have time restrictions outside of your authority area.
This comes on hot on the tails of the Prime Ministers announcement that the £2 bus fare cap will return. As you will remember last year, the original £2 bus fare cap was not renewed as it’s fixed term expired and the £3 fare cap was introduced to some elements of ‘outrage‘ and demands of a £1 bus fare cap.
It appears that there are no changes to eligibility and application of process.