§ Lord HARRIS of HIGH CROSSasked Her Majesty's Government:
What numbers and categories of people are entitled to cheap travel on British railways, and what is: (a) the estimated annual cost of these concessions, and (b) the value of the concessions to the average current employee of British Rail.
§ The Earl of AVONThe entire population is entitled to take advantage of reduced rail fares of one kind or another, with the exception of children under five who travel free. British Rail follow a market pricing policy and offer discounts only where it makes sense commercially. The question of travel concessions to British Rail employees is entirely a matter for the Railways Board. I understand that they have not attempted to assess the cash value of these concessions because of the very wide variations in the travel patterns of individual employees.