HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc635-6W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for a national minimum concessionary fares scheme. [64482]

bedspaces in London, Bristol, Brighton and Cambridge and a further 78 severe weather beds. The winter shelters will be open from 1 December to 31 March. The Winter Shelter Programme will also fund Crisis to keep up to 40 beds open for 2 weeks following the closure of their London Open Christmas provision on 30 December and help to fund a day centre in Portsmouth which will operate over the winter months. Information about the shelters is below:

Ms Glenda Jackson

Our White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" outlined our proposed national minimum concessionary fares scheme, under which pensioners would be entitled to half fares on buses on the purchase of a £5 annual pass. Implementation will depend on the availability of parliamentary time for the passage of the necessary primary legislation.