To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the practice of some bus companies which require local authorities to reimburse them under the national travel scheme on the basis of two single fares rather than a return fare where this would be applicable; what estimate he has made of the resulting cost to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. (80761)

None. The main principle which applies to reimbursement is that bus operators are ‘no better/no worse off’ as a result of taking part in concessionary fares schemes. Reimbursement for lost revenue should be based on the average amount each concessionary traveller would have paid in the absence of the scheme (the average equivalent full fare).

It is for each Concessionary Travel Authority and its bus operators to reach local agreement on the appropriate “average fare”. Reimbursement payments are subject to audits of ticket sales data and, if the authority requires further information, on-bus surveys of patronage.