On 1 April 2006 the Scottish Executive introduced a new National Entitlement Card providing Scotland wide free bus travel for elderly and qualifying disabled people. This new card has replaced the existing East Lothian concessionary travelpermit. By the launch 17,000 cards had been issued.

East Lothian Council are delivering the national entitlement card to citizens of East Lothian who are eligible for concessionary travel and who successfully apply for a smartcard.

The new National Entitlement card enables older and disabled people to travel, to/from, anywhere in Scotland by bus for free and allows for a number of free ferry journeys for island communities. Smartcards were identified as an excellent way to deliver this service.

The new smartcard can also be used as an East Lothian library card and in future other national and local services will also be made accessible to cardholders, reducing the number of cards that people will have to carry.

If you are already a member of the library and want to use your new card as your library card take it to your local branch. If you are not a member of the library but would like to join just take your new card to your local library and ask to join up.

Application forms for the Concessionary Travel scheme are available from your local library.

For more information about the scheme see the FAQ for disabled/elderly Concessionary Travel.

For more information on this and other Modernising Government Projects please check out the latest Modernising Programme Newsletter.