§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a national concession travel scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [32608]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo. Regional and islands councils have discretionary powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 which allow any local authority, or any two or more local authorities acting jointly, to establish a concessionary travel scheme for eligible categories of person. After local government reform, the new councils will retain these powers and the Strathclyde passenger transport authority will have the power to establish a scheme for its area. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances. The Government see no need to introduce a national concession travel scheme in Scotland.
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§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on arrangements for concessionary travel for passengers over the age of retirement after April 1996. [32894]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAfter local government reform the new councils will retain the discretionary powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 which allow any local authority, or any two or more local authorities acting jointly, to establish a concessionary travel scheme for eligible categories of person including passengers over retirement age. The Strathclyde passenger transport authority will also have the power to establish a scheme for its area. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those local authorities that currently operate concessionary travel rates for pensioners. [32895]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAll Scottish regional and islands councils operate a concessionary travel scheme, although the eligible categories and charges may vary between local authorities. The scheme operated by Orkney islands council is restricted to the inter-islands air service.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the current net real cost of allowing concessionary travel schemes for pensioners in the last three years for which figures are available. [32896]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonConcessionary travel schemes are provided for different categories of person and separate figures are unavailable for pensioners. Local authority net expenditure on total concessionary fares in Scotland over the last three years is as follows:
£ thousand Cash terms Real terms1 1992–93 38,868 41,960 1993–94 41,518 43,514 1994–95 45,735 47,107 1 Calculated from Her Majesty's Treasury GDP deflators dated 28 June 1995 converted to 1995–96 prices.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of extending concessionary fare practices to other local authority areas that currently have no concessionary schemes. [32897]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAll regional and islands councils already operate concessionary fares schemes.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet local government representatives, pensioner organisations and the other interested parties to discuss concessionary travel schemes for retired people; and if he will make a statement. [32898]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo meetings are planned. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
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