§ 12. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a decision on his discussions with local authority and bus operator associations concerning the issuing of a formula for guidance in calculating the cost of reimbursing concessionary fares.
§ 109. Mr. Prenticeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in consulting the local authorities and the transport undertakings so as to produce a formula for concessionary bus fares for elderly and handicapped people; and when he expects to make a definite statement.
§ Mr. Graham PageI have nothing yet to add to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South West (Mr. Tom Boardman) on 28th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 198]
§ Mr. JannerWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the winter is approaching and that many elderly people who live on the Midland Red bus routes but who get no concessionary fares will be more or less housebound? Would he not undertake to speed up his discussions, in the circumstances?
§ Mr. PageMy right hon. Friend has power under a Section of the Act only to order a certain formula. He has sent out circulars to local authorities on this subject. The majority of them are against the order being made, and my right hon. Friend will be reluctant to make an order in those circumstances.
Mr. BoardmanIs not the real problem that the fares structure on the nationalised bus undertakings is very high in relation to those of the efficient—which are usually the Conservative-controlled—local authority transport undertakings, and may not the solution lie in reintroducing more private enterprise into the transport system?
§ Mr. PageI would prefer to leave this to the decision of the local authorities, in making these concessions if they see fit.
§ Mr. MulleyWhile I understand the difficulties of getting agreement to this very complicated matter, surely some guidance as to the principle involved—namely, that it is only the additional costs and not the full fares which should be reimbursed—is important? As well as the local authorities, is it not important that some guidance should be given to the Traffic Commissioners, because this is a factor which is taken into account when new fares applications are before them?
§ Mr. PageGuidance has been given in this circular, but it should be on the 400 basis of net loss of revenue to the operator. But the local authorities and the operators would prefer it in this form of guidance rather than an order.