Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Charlotte Atkins (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the concessionary travel announced in the Budget Statement will be paid to local authorities through the revenue support grant; whether the concessionary travel funding announced in the Budget Statement (a) will be paid directly to local authorities and (b) will be based upon the costs of individual schemes within each authority; how local authorities deemed to be floor authorities for the purpose of receiving revenue support grant will be treated in respect of the grant for concessionary travel announced in the Budget Statement; whether the floor will be applied to the grant to these authorities; and whether they will be expected to absorb the full costs of concessionary travel.

Answer: Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the concessionary travel announced in the Budget statement will be paid to local authorities through the revenue support grant; [223910] (2) whether the concessionary travel funding announced in the Budget statement (a) will be paid directly to local authorities and (b) will be based upon the costs of individual schemes within each authority; [223911] (3) how local authorities deemed to be floor authorities for the purpose of receiving revenue support grant will be treated in respect of the grant for concessionary travel announced in the Budget statement; whether the floor will be applied to the grant to these authorities; and whether they will be expected to absorb the full costs of concessionary travel. [223912] Charlotte Atkins: The additional funding for local authorities to implement the move to free concessionary fares for older and disabled people on off-peak local bus services will be paid to local authorities through the revenue support grant. It will be distributed according to the overall revenue support grant settlement formula. No decisions have yet been taken on possible floor schemes for 2006-07 onwards.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c940-1W; 223910;223911;223912
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Disability Bus services Concessions Fares Finance Older people Travel
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk