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Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL]

I welcome the opportunity to give an assurance on that front. I understand that we will be discussing the Bill at subsequent stages as well, but in so far as it is within my power to allay anxieties on this front, I say to the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, that the department is of course fully aware of the sophisticated nature of some local authority schemes, which have cracked some of these problems in certain areas. He will also recognise that we are talking about a multiplicity of different authorities with very different perspectives on how this all works. Consequently, we have to carry out substantial consultation, but I assure the noble Lord that the department regards this exercise as one for which local authority consultation is essential, particularly given the successful work that they have carried out on this.