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<p>The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak
bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those who have reached state pension
age, currently aged sixty-six. ENCTS costs around £1 billion annually and any changes
to the minimum statutory scheme, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would need
to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.</p><p>
</p><p>Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations
and extend free bus travel to those not eligible for ENCTS, however, these additional
concessions are not funded by central government but by local authorities from local
resources, such as council tax. Since 2010/11 almost all of the travel concession
authorities in England have offered some form of discretionary concession.</p><p>
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