§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he plans to put in place to ensure that local authority transport schemes which currently exceed the proposed minimum standard of half price concessionary bus fares for older people do not reduce their benefits to older people when the proposed national scheme is implemented. [83845]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonBeyond the terms of our national standard minimum for concessionary travel schemes for elderly people, local authorities will continue to have full discretion to decide on the terms of their concessionary travel schemes. Local authorities will therefore remain entirely free to provide concessionary fare schemes which are more generous than our proposed statutory minimum. We believe that it is right to maintain the principle that locally elected authorities should consider these matters in the light of local needs and circumstances and their overall financial priorities, and to be locally accountable for the decisions then made.
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§ Mr. O'HaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his proposed minimum national concessionary bus fare scheme for older people will be applicable to all people aged over 60 years. [83844]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonOur proposed national minimum for concessionary fares will be based on the present statutory position, whereby concessionary travel for older people is linked to the state pension age.