(2) what the expected start date is for the introduction of the national off peak free bus travel scheme for pensioners and disabled people;
(3) from which budget the national off peak free bus travel scheme for pensioners and disabled people will be funded;
(4) what eligibility conditions for travel will be in place for the national off peak free bus travel scheme for pensioners and disabled people.
As announced in the 2006 Budget the national bus concession will be introduced in April next year (the exact date will be decided in due course). Eligibility on age or disability grounds will be the same as for the current statutory concession—people aged 60 and over, or who come under one of the seven categories of disability listed in the Transport Act 2000, will qualify.
Guidance to local authorities on eligibility for disabled people was published in 2001 and updated in 2005 (copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House). The Department is looking to re-issue this guidance later in the year following consultation with its Concessionary Fares Working Group.
An eligible person, on the presentation of a pass, will be entitled to travel for free on any local bus service in England from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and at any time at weekends and Bank Holidays.
The responsibilities for administering the concession—assessing eligibility, issuing passes, reimbursing the bus operators and enforcement—will rest with the existing travel concession authorities (TCAs). These are shire districts, unitary authorities, the Passenger Transport Executives in the metropolitan areas, and the London boroughs (we expect the London councils to administer the concession on behalf of the boroughs). The Concessionary Travel Bill currently before Parliament includes an order making power to change the tier of local government at which the concessionary fares is administered in the future, for example from shire districts to county councils.
TCAs can voluntarily enter into joint arrangements with other authorities e.g. a county council could administer the scheme on behalf of its districts. The Department is keen to see such arrangements, due to the administrative efficiencies.
The Concessionary Travel Bill will require the TCA to issue passes to those people that qualify, on age or disability grounds, who appear to have their ‘sole and principal' residence in the TCA.
The extra funding (up to £250 million per year) will either be distributed via the formula grant system (as is the case for current funding of mandatory concession) or specific grant. A decision on the funding route will be made in due course.