§ 7. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Transport if he will amend the provisions in the Transport Act that give local authorities the right to grant concessionary fares to retirement pensioners.
§ 45. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation compelling local authorities to introduce concessionary fares for the elderly on municipal bus services.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineNo, Sir.
§ Mr. EadieDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is a need to unite the nation on this issue? Does he not further agree that the present permissive right of local authorities to give concessionary fares to pensioners should be made mandatory on every local authority?
§ Mr. HeseltineMy right hon. Friend has the power to provide a general formula upon which such concessionary fares should be produced, and he has circulated details of this to the interested parties. We are now considering their representations, but do not believe that it is necessary to impose a standard for whether or not these services should be taken up by local authorities. It is entirely a matter for the local authorities themselves.
§ Mr. JuddIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in cities undergoing a 1506 great deal of redevelopment elderly citizens are faced with heavy fares bills in order to keep in contact with their old friends and families? Does he not also appreciate that to those who listened to the new Government's claim to be concerned with concentrating resources on areas of greatest need there is no excuse for the Government delaying any longer in introducing comprehensive legislation to cover the country as a whole?
§ Mr. HeseltineThe hon. Member will appreciate that the previous Government did not think it necessary to concentrate resources in this direction. It is our view that local authorities will be aware of the sort of local pressures to which the hon. Gentleman refers, and have all the powers to take the action they wish.
§ Sir R. CaryWhilst not wishing to deny the good intentions behind the Questions on the Order Paper, may I remind my hon. Friend of the great range of concessionary fares given by operators throughout the country to the blind, the disabled, to children and to scholars? The total is enormous.
§ Mr. HeseltineI am absolutely sure that my right hon. Friend appreciates that that is the case, and it is precisely because we want this flexibility for local authorities to do what is necessary for their local people that we allow this flexibility to remain.
Mr. Bob BrownWill the Minister confirm that powers already exist for local authorities, if they have the will, to introduce concessionary fares for qualified people? He referred to a formula: will he state that there is no reason at all for any local authority to use the issuing of the formula as an excuse for not introducing travel concessions?
§ Mr. HeseltineThere is absolutely no need at all.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingIs it not also self-evident that concessions like this can unfairly benefit one group of old-age pensioners at the expense of another? If there is anything available for old-age pensioners, is it not far better that it should be available in cash and not in kind?
§ Mr. HeseltineThere is often a need, I think, in local authority areas for 1507 specially based concessions, and it is correct to allow the local authorities to have the special concession-making powers provided in existing legislation.