To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in Gloucestershire who use the Dial-a-Ride service; and if he will make a statement. (93565)

In 2005-06 Community Transport operators across Gloucestershire carried approximately 235,000 passengers, of which the majority (nearly 97 per cent.) were pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to allow dial-a-ride services to qualify for concessionary fares remuneration; and if he will make a statement. (93566)

Local authorities already have the discretion to vary their concessionary fare schemes to include other modes. Some authorities choose to include dial-a-ride services in their local schemes, such decisions being based on their judgment of local need and their overall financial priorities.