HL Deb 25 March 1982 vol 428 cc1073-4

4.4 p.m.

Lord Bellwin

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

Moved, that the Bill be now read a third time.—(Lord Bellivin.)

Lord Underhill

My Lords, in taking the House to a more placid atmosphere, I wish to say only a few words about the Bill, and indeed I do not think your Lordships would wish me to detain you long on it. We are delighted that the measure should be going through the House, but I must draw attention to the fact that the Bill covers only the position of concessionary fares to people in London as a result of the GLC and London Transport finding themselves having to produce a new fares tariff. I wish to make it absolutely clear that senior citizens who use London tube trains outside the GLC area will not have the free concessionary fares which apply to all senior citizens in London. The maximum that some will pay will increase from 80p, the return fare up to 21st March, to £1.20. It means that couples who are pensioners living, say, in estates built by the GLC outside the GLC area, will pay £2.40 to travel to see their relatives in inner London, as against 40p now. That point needs to he made absolutely clear because it will be important to many pensioners outside the GLC area.

On Question, Bill read a third time, and passed.