§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those councils which issue(a) bus passes and (b) bus tokens to pensioners. [67284]
§ Mr. HainAll authorities in Wales provide bus passes as part of their concessionary travel schemes, with the exception of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys who issue tokens. I understand that each of these authorities is considering the possibility of switching from tokens to passes.
§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each local authority in Wales the amount of money allocated for meeting the costs of concessionary bus fares for pensioners for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [67283]
§ Mr. HainIt is for local authorities to make financial provision for their concessionary fares schemes from the resources available to them, and authorities will not yet have set their budgets for 1999–2000. Authorities are free to determine the nature of their concessionary fares schemes, although from April, 1 expect all local authorities in Wales to be operating schemes which at least meet the minimum standard of £5 for a bus pass and half fare for bus travel for pensioners. The increases in net total standard spending announced on 9 December included sufficient funds for this.