§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for the rise in the cost of concessionary fares in 1975–76 from an estimated £35 million given in reply to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 7th April 1975 to £75 million stated by Lord Kirkhill in another place on 23rd June 1976; if he will afford a similar increase in resources to meet the mobility needs of elderly handicapped people unable to use public transport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. GilbertThe difference in these two cost estimates for England and Wales is accounted for as follows:
- i. revision from November 1974 to November 1975 prices: £15 million;
- ii. inclusion of the cost of concessionary fares for children—other than travel to school—: £9 million;
- iii. introduction of new schemes and the expansion of existing ones: £7 million;
- iv. under-estimating the cost of existing concessions as a consequence of incomplete information: £9 million.
The mobility allowance for handicapped people unable to use public transport is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.