HC Deb 23 October 1973 vol 861 c453W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons of pensionable age he estimates are currently in receipt of concessionary transport permits; what is the annual cost; and what plans he has to extend the introduction of such permits on a mandatory basis.

Mr. Alison

Information about numbers of permits issued is not collected centrally, but I understand that the total cost of concessionary fare schemes for the elderly in England was of the order of £10 million in 1972–73 and may reach £20 million in 1974–75. We have no plans to make such schemes mandatory.