§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of his circular recently issued to local authorities advising them that they should not introduce new schemes for free or travel-subsidised fares for old-age pensioners or extend existing schemes; what is the object of this circular; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI have been asked to reply.
This is a joint circular issued by a number of Government Departments on 23rd December 1974, referring to rate fund expenditure and rate calls in 1975–76. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The circular concerns the rate support grant settlement for 1975–76 agreed by the House on 12th December 1974, and gives guidance to local authorities about the effect of the settlement on their services in that year. So far as concessionary fares are concerned it indicates that
The Government recognise that neither the expansion of existing concessionary fare schemes nor the introduction of any new schemes will be possible.