Hope this is still okay regarding R2 — the BBC headline made it seem like it was already ongoing, but they were plans for a nationwide pilot which were meant to go ahead but it has now been put aside due to lack of funding.
by backupJM
Hope this is still okay regarding R2 — the BBC headline made it seem like it was already ongoing, but they were plans for a nationwide pilot which were meant to go ahead but it has now been put aside due to lack of funding.
by backupJM
13 comments
Once again the BBC in Scotland engaging in propaganda.
I’d love it if people added the relevant context like that all the time tbh OP, good job.
Not a fan of this. Asylum seekers are pretty marginalised, are denied work, and are expected to live on pennies.
The bus travel scheme should be inner city only. That it covers coaches going across Scotland – don’t see why us plebes have to pay for passes and also coaches if travelling elsewhere. While a concession card holder can head off for free.
I don’t think they are able to work, are they? Why would they need free bus travel out with their area? It’s there a way to make it within the immediate area they’re located in, if that?
If you recall, the purpose of the scheme was to allow asylum seekers access to shops, health appointments, solicitors, language lessons etc, more easily – especially given that asylum seekers can’t work and get very little to live off. Another goal was better integration. With the pilot to determine how successful these goals were.
But as public finances are tight, these plans have now been scrapped, which is understandable but unfortunate.
We’ll probably be hearing quite a bit of different cuts in the run-up to the budget, with protecting public services likely the rationale behind most decisions.
We need to make cuts. This is a common sense place to start.
I can hand on my heart promise that my local area has already given free bus passes to seekers. They also got a free push bikes and leisure centre membership card for Moray council facilities.
Sad really, usual kick down on the most marginal people in Society, I wonder what the Americans called the children we evacuated to Canada and the US during the war, did they resent the charitable organisation behind it.
Still, it’s okay for billionaires to buy up huge tracts of Scotland, as long as they buy their own bus fare.
😳😳😳
I don’t like the way these schemes are always just described as ‘free’. The government/tax payers pay the bus companies for every journey.
So they are subsidised not free.
Its not free the Taxpayer have to pay for it.
Good title. Actually gives context
Probably idealistic – but this seemed like it would have been a good idea. A small investment now to make life better for a small amount of people so they can integrate sooner/ better. I’d imagine we would get the money back once they start earning/ paying taxes.
I can see how it will be attacked though – and the current government just doesn’t have the political capital to push it through.