Concessionary Bus Fares For Devon Pensioners

EDM number 414 in 1998-99, proposed by Adrian Sanders on 11/03/1999.

That this House notes that in Devon, Labour-controlled Exeter Council, has a ú32 permit fee entitling the pensioner to a 33 per cent. discount bus fare; further notes that Torbay Liberal Democrat-controlled, and West Devon, with the Liberal Democrats as equal largest group, have the lowest permit fees entitling pensioners to a 50 per cent. discount on bus travel, but that no local authority currently offers the scheme proposed in the Government's White Paper on the Future of Transport; further notes that the Government's White Paper on the Future of Transport states 'We will introduce a national minimum standard for local authority concessionary fares schemes for elderly people with a maximum ú5 a year charge for a pass entitling the holder to travel at half fare on buses'; further notes that there is no legislation to bring this about even though the national cost is estimated at just ú25 million; and calls on the Government to implement the pledges contained in the Transport White Paper without delay, so all pensioners can have the savings the Government has promised them.

This motion has been signed by a total of 3 MPs.