[holding answer 25 January 2008]: From April this year, for the first time, those aged 60 and over, and the eligible disabled, will be able to travel anywhere in England on off-peak local buses. This new concession is being funded at a cost of an additional £212 million—bringing our total commitment to concessionary travel to around £1 billion per year. Our current focus is very much on the successful implementation of this new all-England concession from April.
Local authorities retain the ability to offer discretionary concessions, including rail or underground travel, over and above the statutory minimum, if they wish to do so from their own resources.