Travel: Concessions

Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to extend the concessionary travel scheme to (a) long distance coach travel and (b) other forms of public transport.

Ms Rosie Winterton
Since 2003 there has been a half-fare concessionary travel scheme for older and eligible disabled people on long distance coaches. It is a voluntary scheme but the major providers of long distance coach services take part. The scheme will continue following the introduction of the England-wide free off-peak local bus travel concession in April. There are no proposals at present to extend statutory concessionary fares to forms of transport other than local buses.