§ 45. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to making concessionary fares for the elderly a matter of 222W national policy rather than of discretion for the local authorities.
§ Mr. HoramI reviewed the policy for concessionary fares last year. As explained in the transport policy White Paper, a national scheme as good as the most generous current schemes would be too expensive, and a national scheme which we could afford would mean a reduction in some existing schemes. I am therefore making more resources available for local authorities to introduce or improve schemes.
§ 59. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Transport why the Government have not introduced a nationwide scheme for concessionary fares on public transport.
§ Mr. HoramWe considered the possibility of a national concessionary fares scheme before issuing the transport policy White Paper, but concluded that we could not afford a national scheme as good as the most generous existing schemes. Any uniform national scheme that we could afford would therefore mean reducing the concessions at present enjoyed by a large number of people. I am making resources available for local authorities to introduce new and improved schemes.