§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department's discussions with coach operators over concessionary pensioners' fares are intended to cover inter-authority journeys.[13036]
§ Ms KeebleWe have agreed in principle to a proposal from the Commission for Integrated Transport under which coach operators would offer half-price fares to older and disabled passengers on long distance scheduled coaches in England. In return for these fare concessions, operators would—for the first time—receive Fuel Duty Rebate. We shall be consulting the industry and others shortly on the details. Under the proposal concessionary fares on the services eligible, which of course cross local authority boundaries, would not be part of the local authority concessionary fares schemes.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will extend eligibility for concessionary pensioners fares to inter-authority journeys.[13034]
§ Ms KeebleI refer the hon. Member to my replies of 10 July 2001,Official Report, column 439W and 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 578W.