§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether Her Majesty's Government are providing any funds to county and district councils and transport authorities to assist with the implementations of travel concessions to handicapped people under the provisions of the Transport Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellExpenditure on concessionary travel is in general a matter for local authorities, which make decisions in the light of available resources and their overall priorities. In support of their total expenditure, authorities receive block grant through annual rate support grant settlements, and the calculation of their entitlement to grant includes an assessment of their need to spend on services in the light of the public expenditure provision for those services. For 1986–87, the provision for spending on concessionary fare schemes in England was £223 million, while for 1987–88 an increase in provision of £21 million has been announced.