---

Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to offer reduced-rate tickets for (i) pensioners, (ii) people with disabilities, (iii) children under 16 and (iv) people between the ages of 16 and 19 in full-time education; and if he will make a statement; [134078] (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have implemented reduced-rate tickets for (i) pensioners, (ii) people with disabilities, (iii) children under 16 and (iv) people between the ages of 16 and 19 in full-time education in the last five years; how many passengers were carried (A) before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134079] Mr. McNulty: From June 2001 the Transport Act 2000 provides a standard minimum requirement for concessionary travel in England which guarantees half fares for all pensioners and disabled people on local buses, with no charge for the pass. Local authorities may make more generous provision at their discretion. From 1 April this year concessionary travel schemes are available to men aged 60 to 64, bringing them into line with women of the same age. Free travel to and from school is provided by local education authorities under the education acts for schoolchildren up to the age of 16 living more than the statutory walking distances from school. Under the Transport Act 1985 local authorities have a power to provide concessionary travel for school children, and for young people aged 16 to 19 who are undergoing full- time education (see table). That power applies to all journeys, not just those to or from school. Some bus operators offer reduced fares for young people on a commercial basis. These schemes will vary from time to time. In addition the Connexions Card project offers a range of commercial discounts for all 16 to 19-year-olds and the card is capable of carrying existing travel concessions. We do not collect information on what bus companies offer for these groups of people, nor on how many passengers were carried before and after implementation of any discount schemes, many of which have been in place for many years. In 2001 the Department carried out a survey about local authority concessionary travel in England. This survey showed that in 2001 the following authorities provided concessionary travel, at their discretion, for children and young people of the following age categories: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Under 16 16 years Students Unitaries Derby City East Riding of Yorkshire Darlington East Riding of Yorkshire Milton Keynes Derby City Isle of Wight North East Lincolnshire East Riding of Yorkshire Kingston upon Hull North Lincolnshire Hartlepool Milton Keynes Plymouth Isle of Wight North East Lincolnshire York Kingston upon Hull North Lincolnshire Middlesbrough Swindon Milton Keynes York North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire Redcar and Cleveland Stockton on Tees Telford and Wrekin Warrington Windsor and Maidenhead Counties Derbyshire Durham Cornwall Durham Hertfordshire Derbyshire Hertfordshire Northumberland Hertfordshire Northumberland Northumberland Surrey Passenger transport authorities Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Greater Manchester Merseyside South Yorkshire South Yorkshire South Yorkshire Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear West Midlands West Midlands West Midlands West Yorkshire West Yorkshire West Yorkshire Transport for London (TFL) TFL TFL _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

412 c140-2W;412 c148-50W; 134078;134079

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Disability Children Companies Bus services Concessions Fares Exemptions Local government Pensioners Pupils Young people

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk