§ Mr. Meacherasked 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. AlisonInformation 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.