HC Deb 18 July 1978 vol 954 cc156-7W
Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details in the Official Report of the various concessionary fares schemes for elderly and disabled people provided by local authorities offering such schemes; and if he will also list the authorities with appropriate powers who are not operating such a scheme.

Mr. Horam

Information about concessionary fares schemes based on a survey in 1976 is given in the Department of Transport's Local Transport Note 1/77—"A Survey of Concessionary Bus Fares for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled in England and Wales". A copy is in the Library.

All county and district councils in England and Wales have powers to operate concessionary fares schemes but most schemes have been provided by district authorities. The 1976 survey showed that 56 districts had no schemes. These are:

  • *Alnwick.
  • Arun.
  • Berwick-on-Tweed.
  • *Beverley.
  • Boston.
  • Breckland.
  • Broadland.
  • Caradon.
    • 157
  • Carrick.
  • Charnwood.
  • Chichester.
  • Christchurch.
  • East Devon.
  • East Lindsey.
  • Eden.
  • Hambleton.
  • Harborough.
  • Horsham.
  • Kennet.
  • Kerrier.
  • Leominster.
  • Maldon.
  • Malvern Hills.
  • Mendip.
  • North Cornwall.
  • North Dorset.
  • North Norfolk.
  • North Shropshire.
  • North Wiltshire.
  • Penwith.
  • *Poole.
  • Purbeck.
  • Reigate and Banstead.
  • Restormel.
  • Rother.
  • Salisbury.
  • South Hams.
  • South Herefordshire.
  • South Holland.
  • South Norfolk.
  • South Northamptonshire.
  • Stafford.
  • South Shropshire.
  • Stratford-on-Avon.
  • Tandridge.
  • Teignbridge.
  • Tiverton.
  • Tunbridge Wells.
  • *Tynedale.
  • *Wealden.
  • West Devon.
  • West Dorset.
  • West Somerset.
  • *West Wiltshire.
  • *Wimborne.
  • Woodspring.

* These are known to have introduced a scheme or to have made definite plans to do so since the survey.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has had to his circular of 13th January relating to concessionary fares schemes for the elderly and disabled; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. William Rodgers

There is evidence of both county and district councils actively considering whether to introduce new or improved schemes and some have already done so. I expect to know more about the impact on 1979–80 expenditure in the autumn. Starting early next year, the annually published county public transport plans will include information about the extent and adequacy of concessionary fares schemes.