A SOUTH Scotland MSP has accused the Scottish Government of “congratulating themselves on a job half done” as figures reveal 58 per cent of children and young people in Scotland are missing out on their free bus pass.

A parliamentary question has revealed that more than 570,000 children and young people don’t have their free bus pass six months after the scheme launched and more than two years after it was announced.

According to the Scottish Government, uptake in East Ayrshire is the highest in the South Scotland region - but it still stands at only 58.7 per cent.

In Dumfries and Galloway uptake rates stand at 30.1 per cent – and in South Ayrshire, the figure is just 27.1 per cent.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth said: “The school holidays would’ve been the perfect time for young people to make use of their pass to go and explore Scotland and meet friends.

“It’s good to see uptake climbing, but this is pitiful progress.

“People are still facing too many barriers applying and the hard truth is in huge parts of Scotland there simply aren’t enough buses for the pass to be of much use.

“If this was an exam, the SNP would have failed it.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “ We are determined to ensure all children and young people who benefit most from free bus travel don’t miss out.

“Since January, well over 400,000 young people have including online or directly with councils who can also coordinate through schools.

“In February, we launched the ‘Transport Scot Pass joined the scheme and over 15 million journeys have been made.

“There are a number of different ways to apply, Collect’ app which lets 16-21s collect free bus travel onto their existing NEC or Young Scot NEC, without having to apply for a replacement.”