§ 52. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will introduce legislation to raise to fifteen years the maximum age at which children are permitted to travel at half-price.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. This is a matter for the appropriate fare-fixing body in each case, except where a local authority already has the power to charge half fares for children up to fifteen years under the Public Service Vehicles (Travel Concessions) Act, 1955.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the authority which local authorities possess is strictly limited and 2108 is subject to many exceptions? Is he further aware that concessionary fares for school children were agreed to be both desirable and necessary a long time ago? Will he not take steps to bring these fare concessions into conformity with the present minimum school-leaving age?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI will certainly look at the matter again, but it is a very complicated one.