Bus journeys in west of Scotland to be capped at £2 from Monday
The Scottish government has announced a £2 bus fare cap for the west of Scotland starting next Monday. Additionally, First Minister John Swinney revealed plans to consolidate Scotland's 14 health boards into two to improve efficiency.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in Scottish public transport policy and a major structural overhaul of the national healthcare system.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The bus fare cap will cover journeys in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde
Bus fares in the west of Scotland will be capped at £2, First Minister John Swinney has announced.
The move takes effect from Monday morning for journeys in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Inverclyde.
In his programme for government, Swinney also confirmed plans to cut Scotland's health boards from 14 to two in what he said was the "most significant structural reform in the NHS in the era of devolution".
He vowed that by 2031, no patient will wait longer than 26 weeks for the treatment they need - an apparent downgrade on a promise in 2011 that patients should not wait longer than 12 weeks for inpatient or day-case treatment after diagnosis.
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