Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
It comes after the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said the scheme would now also include companions of eligible disabled children aged under five.
The move could result in more than 3,000 families and children additionally benefitting from the bus pass.
Additionally, Mr Matheson announced that the age of eligibility will not change for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme and that the options to provide free bus travel for Modern Apprentices will continue to be considered.
The consultation on the scheme closed in November 2017, with nearly 3000 responses received from people and organisations all across Scotland.
Two thirds of respondents felt that that the free bus pass should remain available from the age of 60.
A similar number of respondents felt that Modern Apprentices should benefit from free bus travel, and an overwhelming number of respondents were in favour of providing companion cards for eligible disabled children aged under five.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:
“I am pleased this extension to the bus pass has now been made.
“The bus pass is a benefit that many people enjoy and use as part of their daily lives and the concessionary travel scheme enables independence, accessibility and social inclusivity.
“It is right the Scottish Government carries out this work and ensure the sustainability of the National Concessionary Travel Scheme and I am grateful to all those who took part in the consultation process and helped inform the future scope of Scotland’s bus pass.”
“The bus pass is a benefit that many people enjoy and use as part of their daily lives and the concessionary travel scheme enables independence, accessibility and social inclusivity.
“It is right the Scottish Government carries out this work and ensure the sustainability of the National Concessionary Travel Scheme and I am grateful to all those who took part in the consultation process and helped inform the future scope of Scotland’s bus pass.”
