HC Deb 18 June 1984 vol 62 cc5-6
5. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has had from the London boroughs to his plans for a concessionary fares scheme for London pensioners.

Mr. Ridley

The London Boroughs Association has welcomed the provision in the London Regional Transport Bill of a statutory reserve travel concession scheme. It has also agreed the principle of a voluntary joint scheme, based on the existing one, and is working out the details.

Mr. Gould

Does the Secretary of State recognise that the remarkable swing to Labour in London's EEC elections represents not only a satisfactory pricking of the alliance parties, but is a clear and unmistakable rejection by Londoners of the Government's attacks on their rights?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The question relates to concessionary fares.

Mr. Gould

Does the Secretary of State now expect Tory-controlled boroughs in London and London Tory Members of Parliamemt, who are now living on borrowed time, to heed the electoral warning, and will he and his colleagues do likewise?

Mr. Ridley

I agree with you, Mr. Speaker, that the European elections have no relevance to the future of the concessionary fares scheme in London. It is indicative of the Opposition's view of the matter that they should want the future of Europe to be fought on the battlegrounds of domestic legislation for London. It is typical of the Labour party, for that is the length and breadth of its vision on the great topic of Europe.

Mr. Tracey

Does my right hon. Friend intend to accept the amendment tabled in another place, which seeks to extend concessionary fares to the evening period?

Mr. Ridley

We do not intend to overturn the amendment on evening peak travel. Their Lordships are well aware that they have deliberately left in the relevant clause of the Bill power for London Regional Transport to change the timings without my approval or that of the House and to reinstate the eyeing period, if desirable.

Mr. Cartwright

In the light of recent court cases, is the Secretary of State confident that the London Boroughs Association and the Association of London Authorities will sink their political differences and co-operate in negotiating the best possible concessionary fares scheme for London's pensioners?

Mr. Ridley

The latest information is that they are more or less agreed on a scheme which closely resembles existing provisions for concessionary fares, and are working on the details now. I hope that they will succeed, because I have always been reluctant about the use of the reserve powers in the Bill. It would be better if the local authorities could agree. I wish them well.

Mr. Parris

If the Government do not abolish the GLC, will my right hon. Friend nevertheless take London Transport under his wing?

Mr. Ridley

Yes, Sir, and very soon.

Mr. Prescott

Does the Secretary of State's statement mean that although the House refused to include peak time travel in the pass for pensioners, which was, however, included in the other place, his guarantee that pensioners will not be worse off than before means nothing, because London Transport can change the hours? Will that system be introduced?

Mr. Ridley

Yes, that is the present position. The GLC can change the hours without statutory procedures, and London Regional Transport will also be able to do so.