HC Deb 08 February 1985 vol 72 cc716-7W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what travel concessions will be available on taxis and minibuses under the Transport Bill.

Mr. David Mitchell

Under clause 85 of the Bill a local authority which established a scheme for travel concessions would be required to enter into arrangements with any operator of a registered local service who offered to participate in that scheme. Local services are defined in Clause 2 of the Bill, and are, broadly, those carrying passengers at separate fares on which passengers can travel for less than 15 miles. Such services operated by minibuses and taxis will be treated identically to those operated by large buses.

Mr. Snape

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the dinner in the west midlands on Tuesday 5 February at which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Hampshire, North-West (Mr. Mitchell) was to discuss the Transport Bill with local newspaper editors and about which hon. Members were notified by his Department involved any expenditure of public funds.

Mr. Ridley

Yes.

Mr. Snape

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many dinners have been arranged between departmental Ministers and newspaper editors to discuss the Government's Transport Bill; where these meetings were held; who was present; and what was the total cost to public funds.

Mr. Ridley

My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary has met 86 editors in Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Newcastle, Durham, Doncaster, Leeds, Nottingham and Birmingham as part of a series of visits which also involved meetings with representatives of local authorities. Officials were present on each occasion. The cost of the hospitality will be under £2,000.

I have arranged to hold a similar meeting with editors in Bristol.