Jackie Baillie has expressed her disappointment that almost half of children and young people in West Dunbartonshire are missing out on their free bus pass, with the figures even worse in neighbouring Argyll and Bute.

Figures obtained by Scottish Labour have revealed that just 54.8 percent of children and young people in West Dunbartonshire still don’t have their free bus pass six months after the scheme launched and more than two years after it was announced. In May, this figure was at 49.2 percent.

In Argyll and Bute, only a third (33.7 percent) of children and young people have been able to successfully apply. The figure increased from 21.6 percent in May.

The Dumbarton constituency MSP said: “It is extremely disappointing that so many young people in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch, Helensburgh and Lomond have not been able to have their free bus pass in time for summer as this would have been a huge benefit to families during a cost of living crisis.

“The school holidays would have been the perfect time for young people to make use of their pass to go and explore Scotland and meet up with friends. Instead I am still hearing from people who have struggled to negotiate the difficult application process for their child.

“It is time for the SNP-Green government to drop the spin and focus on delivering on this promise so that no more children and young people miss out.”