§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Dicks) on 15 February, whether it is his intention that the proposed London Regional Transport Executive will not be able to alter the classes of persons eligible to benefit under the scheme without approval by Parliament; and whether he will now state his attitude to applications from London boroughs to charge for permits that may arise should the Bill become law.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to the answer, 20 February 1984, c. 369]: Following is the full reply.
The LRT bill will prescribe the classes eligible and London Regional Transport will have no powers to alter these. On the second part of the question, I will propose to the Bill Committee taking powers that enable me to control charges to prevent the concessionary fares scheme being frustrated; it is premature to go further at this stage.