From April this year, older and disabled people have been guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel within their local authority area. From April 2008, this will be extended further allowing free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
Free concessionary bus travel schemes already exist in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill introduced on 27 November includes a power to allow via regulations in the future for mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK.