§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost, in 1976, of rate-funded concessionary bus fare schemes; and what additional costs were borne on these schemes by the Exchequer.
373W
§ Mr. William RodgersExpenditure on concessionary fare schemes for the elderly by local authorities in England and Wales was about £61 million in 1975–76 and is expected to be about £74 million in 1976–77—both at outturn prices. The aggregate of estimated expenditure on concessionary fares is relevant for rate support grant but within the block grant received by each authority it is not possible to isolate an amount in respect of any particular items such as concessionary fares. Concessionary fares expenditure is not eligible for transport supplementary grant.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many concessionary fare schemes are provided by local authorities; how many of these are in local authority areas which operate municipal bus services and how many are not; if he will list all the schemes in both these categories; and if he will also list those local authorities with municipal bus services that do not provide any rate-funded scheme of concessionary bus fares.
§ Mr. William RodgersA survey undertaken in August 1976 indicated that at that time there were 274 concessionary fare schemes operated by county or district councils in England and Wales: under these schemes concessions were offered to elderly people in Greater London, the six metropolitan counties, all of Wales and 239 of the English non-metropolitan districts—the eligibility qualifications vary, however, Elderly residents of all the
Thousand Tonnes Year 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Foreign Trade … … 5,628 5,560 4,895 4,596 5,409 5,569 4,754 4,741 Coastal Trade … … 2,132 2,099 1,533 1,317 1,170 1,020 662 618 TOTAL TRADE … 7,760 7,659 6,428 5,913 6,579 6,589 5,416 5,359