FUNDING OF CONCESSIONARY BUS FARE SCHEME

That this House welcomes the concessionary bus fare scheme; expresses concern at the findings of new research which indicate a £60 million national shortfall in Government funding for the scheme; expresses particular concern that the hardest hit local authorities are facing shortfalls of as much as £1.7 million; notes that in these cases the shortfall in these councils is the equivalent of a council tax increase of £40 per family; and calls upon the Government to review the current funding formula used to calculate the grants given to local authorities for the concessionary bus fares scheme.