Policy Statements and Initiatives
DfT: Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled the new pass that is intended to give older and disabled people free off-peak bus travel across England from 1 April, 2008.
Currently, people aged 60 & over and eligible disabled people are entitled to free off-peak bus travel within their own local authority area. But from April 2008 the Government will invest up to an extra £250m each year to extend the scheme to include off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England. The concession applies between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day weekends & bank holidays.
Press release ~ DfT - Concessionary bus fares ~ DirectGov – Free travel and concessions ~ Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 ~ ITSO smartcards ~ Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) ~ Help the Aged ~ Confederation of Passenger Transport UK
DIUS: Innovation Secretary John Denham has unveiled the location of the new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI). It will be at Loughborough University campus and it will be run by the Midlands Consortium (Universities of Birmingham, Loughborough and Nottingham).
The new centre is intended to bring more focus, ambition and collaboration to the UK's energy, science and engineering drive. The Government is putting up to £550 million into the programme over the next 10 years. Joint investment from the private sector will, it is hoped, double funding to over £1 billion.
