§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now answer questions relating to concessionary fares schemes.
§ Mr. EyreIndividual concessionary fares schemes are the responsibility of the local authorities concerned, but I am always ready to answer questions about the Government's policy on concessionary fares.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information is kept by his Department about concessionary fares.
§ Mr. EyreLocal authorities are not required to send us details of their concessionary fare schemes, which are a matter for local decision. Their expenditure on such schemes is recorded in the annual stage carriage return to the Department of Transport and in the general returns of local authority expenditure submitted to the Department of the Environment. The Department of Transport also receives information from operators about the concessionary fare payments they receive. Total expenditure on concessionary fare schemes is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain". As part of the National Travel Survey some information is also collected about the use made of concessionary fare schemes.