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Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [Lords]

The Minister is right: that is a matter for local authorities. I was describing the funding for the statutory scheme, and local authorities indicated clearly that they had not received enough money from the Government to fund that 2006 scheme. With regard to the Minister’s initial intervention, I do not know yet whether £1 billion will be sufficient to fund the scheme. I do not doubt the Minister’s integrity or sincerity in believing that the £1 billion that the Government say that they are providing is the right amount. That does not, however, negate the purpose of the new clause, which would allow us, after two years of operation—I accept that the transitional year may be unsteady—to ensure that the Minister’s belief was correct, and if it proves not to have been correct, to review the matter. I see no contradiction whatever in that.