Concessionary Fares (Hansard, 22 December 1988)

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether London Regional Transport has requested his agreement to the imposition of the reserve free travel scheme despite agreement between all London boroughs to continue the present voluntary concessionary fares scheme.

§ Mr. Portillo
No. There is no requirement for LRT to do so.

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the disagreement between London Regional410W Transport and the London boroughs, he will direct London Regional Transport to continue the existing concessionary fares scheme.

§ Mr. Portillo
No. The provision of travel concessions in and in the vicinity of London is governed by sections 50 to 53 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984.

§ Mr. Snape
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances London Regional Transport would be able to impose the reserve free travel scheme on the London boroughs.

§ Mr. Portillo
Section 51 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984 provides that the reserve free travel scheme for London residents will come into effect if immediately before 1 January in any accounting year of London Regional Transport it appears to LRT that there are not in force arrangements, which will apply throughout the following accounting year, for the provision of concessions which satisfy the requirements of section 53 as to scope and uniformity, and for reimbursement by the London boroughs of the cost of those concessions to LRT. In such circumstances LRT is under a statutory duty to implement the reserve scheme.