§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any immediate plans to withdraw the Government's advice to local authorities not to introduce new concessionary fare schemes for pensioners or to improve existing ones; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, the transport policy White Paper provides for local authorities to spend, by the end of the decade, an additional £25 million on improved schemes for concessionary fares in areas where the present provision is inadequate. Consultations on the implementation of this decision have taken place and a new circular giving advice to local authorities will be issued within the next few days.