Department for Transport
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Government outlines plans to improve free bus pass scheme
Plans to improve the delivery of the concessionary bus pass scheme were announced today by Transport Minister Paul Clark, as he launched a consultation on possible changes to the way the scheme is administered.
One option being considered is to give county councils responsibility for running the scheme. Currently administration of the scheme is mainly handled by district councils, but the Government believes a change will simplify the system and allow for the more accurate distribution of funding.
Local Authorities receive around £1 billion to fund the statutory concessionary bus pass scheme in their area, which gives 11 million older and disabled people free off-peak bus travel across England.
Paul Clark said;
"Concessionary travel is a successful and popular policy. A recent survey suggests around 95% of the population believe it's right that older and disabled people are entitled to travel for free on off-peak buses.
"We're confident there is enough money in the system, but we need to ensure that the right structures are in place to administer it.
"I look forward to hearing people's views on how to guarantee that pass holders get the most out of this billion pound scheme and concessionary travel remains sustainable for the future."
The administrative arrangements for concessionary travel have remained the same since the statutory minimum bus concession was introduced in 2001. Since then various changes have been made to improve and extend the scope of the concession, and in April last year the limitation of local area only travel was replaced by free England-wide off-peak bus travel.
Notes to editors
1. 'Possible changes to the administration of concessionary travel; Consultation Paper' can be found here; http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/concessionarytravel
2. The consultation considers various changes including;
* leaving things as they currently are;
* moving administration to the higher tier (mainly county councils);
* or centralising it with DfT or one of its agencies.
3. The consultation also seeks views on the provision of extra entitlements provided by local authorities at their own cost, in addition to the statutory minimum of off-peak free travel. If a decision were made to move concessionary travel to a higher tier, there are various options for how the concession could be tailored to local needs and the Government is interested in our stakeholder's views on this issue.
4. For further information on the England-wide Bus Concession please visit; http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/
5. From 1st April 2008 people aged 60 or over, and eligible disabled, whose principle residence is England, were able to take advantage of free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England. Off-peak is 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and anytime on weekends and Bank Holidays. These criteria are unaffected by the consultation.
6. The bus concession covers free off-peak local bus travel in England for people aged 60 or over or people who are eligible disabled. It does not cover national coach travel or other modes of transport. However, individual Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) are able to extend the travel benefits (such as to tubes, trains and all day travel) at their own discretion. These additional benefits are funded by the relevant TCA and so are likely to be available only to people living in the TCA's area. Information on eligible services can be found here; http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/informationlocalauthorities/eligibleservices/servicechanges.
7. People are advised to contact their local pass provider or visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/buspass for details of any local benefits. Local discretionary additions are unaffected by this consultation and will continue to operate on a local level.
8. In 2001, a half price off-peak local bus travel statutory minimum concession was introduced in England for people aged 60 or over, or eligible disabled, within their local travel area. In 2006, this was extended to free off-peak local bus travel. From 1st April 2008 the concession was extended to free off-peak local bus travel throughout England. Additional funding of £217 million is being provided to local authorities this year by a special grant purely to cover the cost of extending the concession to England-wide travel.
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