Cost of National Entitlement Card: FOI release

Information requested

1. How much does it cost to administer the issuance of a National Entitlement Card for a Child aged between 5-11 and a child aged 12-18 if different.
2. What the potential saving would be based on estimates of numbers of children aged between 5- 11 if free bus travel was provided without the need for a NEC to be issued or shown.
3. What the reasoning was in deciding a 5-11 year old should carry a card as opposed to just providing free bus travel without the need to show the NEC.
4. Basically why are we wasting tax payers money on issuing a card to young children when we should just be able to give them free travel.

Response

1. How much does it cost to administer the issuance of a National Entitlement Card for a Child aged between 5-11 and a child aged 12-18 if different.

2. What the potential saving would be based on estimates of numbers of children aged between 5-11 if free bus travel was provided without the need for a NEC to be issued or shown.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in these points. The administration of the National Entitlement Card for all young people aged between 5-21, is undertaken by the National Entitlement Card Programme Office. Transport Scotland does not have access to this financial information. If you wish to enquire about the cost of administering the issuance of cards for any age range, please contact the National Entitlement Card Programme Office who can give details on this.

3. What the reasoning was in deciding a 5-11 year old should carry a card as opposed to just providing free bus travel without the need to show the NEC.

4. Basically why are we wasting tax payers money on issuing a card to young children when we should just be able to give them free travel.

Following the completion of a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, the Scottish Government set the policy for the scheme, requiring parental/guardian approval for applications for under 16s. Therefore, when applying for a National Entitlement Card (NEC) for those aged 5-15, an applicant must provide proof of parental / guardian relationship and consent. The requirement of producing a valid NEC on bus journeys therefore ensures that only those 5-15 year olds with parental/guardian consent can access the scheme, an important aspect of the scheme.

In addition, much like the Older and Disabled Concessionary Travel Scheme, when a cardholder places their NEC on a ticket machine, drivers can record the boarding and alighting fare stage for the journey requested. All claims are then subject comprehensive compliance audit checks, in accordance with our Counter Fraud Strategy. This ensures that operators are accurately reimbursed for journeys made through the scheme, and ensures that we are proactive in seeking out instances of potential fraud.

Therefore National Entitlement Cards are required both as an aspect of child safety and to ensure that operators are accurately reimbursed.

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