South Lanarkshire has the lowest level of under-22 bus pass uptake on mainland Scotland

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Labour councillors are calling for action as under five per cent of eligible young people in South Lanarkshire have been issued with their free bus pass.Latest figures show that 4.8 per cent of eligible under-22s have received their free bus pass in the region, making it the lowest level of uptake on mainland Scotland.Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, education spokeswoman for the Labour group, said: councils are responsible for "driving up" bus pass applications through co-ordinated action at school level.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android She added: "That’s what the Labour council in Inverclyde did and the extraordinary levels of uptake there are testament to their good work."Here in South Lanarkshire, however, uptake levels are lower than anywhere else in mainland Scotland.“Young people, including young people in deprived or remote rural areas, are again losing out.“The roll-out of the bus pass has been a shambles.

There have been mixed messages from the very start and councils are under-resourced."That said, it was clear weeks ago that Inverclyde was adopting a different approach and that was highlighted to the council.

If South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) had co-ordinated applications at school level, then our young people would be in a better position today.“Elections are only a few weeks away and