§ Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Transport which west midland district councils have given him an assurance that they will maintain concessionary fares at their present real levels if responsibility for the scheme is passed to them.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. Friend has neither sought nor received any such assurances. Metropolitan county and district councils both have discretionary power to pay for travel concessions. The abolition of the metropolitan county councils will not change the principle that the terms of concessionary fares schemes must be a matter for local authorities to decide.