PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2007

Concessionary Bus Travel Bill: Where is the money coming from?

The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill is currently passing through Parliament with the aim of introducing free off-peak bus travel for pensioners and disabled people throughout England from April 2008. The Bill is intended to provide older people throughout the UK with the opportunity to engage in social interaction with their local communities and combat isolation.

It is currently estimated that 27% of people over 65 living in rural areas such as North East Cambs have no access to a car. Additionally these are the areas where the proportion of the older population is growing fastest. Measures must be put in place to deal with this problem and ensure that the older population are able to lead full independent lives. However, this also begs the question; where is the money coming from?

Malcolm Moss MP has expressed support for the principle of the Bill, but is concerned about how the Government intends to fund and implement concessionary fares.

Malcolm Moss MP says:

“Are Councils going to be given extra funding to implement the scheme or will they be expected to find money from the existing pot. If so this would have a negative effect on other local services as money would be taken away from one area simply to bolster another. For this scheme to work the Government must ensure it is centrally funded. It is no longer fair for the Council Tax payer to foot the bill. Parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill must confirm that the Government is not promising a service to some of the most vulnerable people in society without thinking through the delivery or funding properly.”