CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES

That this House welcomes the benefit to elderly and disabled people demonstrated by the extended concessionary bus fare scheme; notes that the existing funding grant does not fully compensate many local authorities for the costs involved; further notes that the scheme impacts disproportionately on areas that attract large numbers of visitors, such as coastal resorts, whose demography already results in a higher uptake; fears that as well as removing funding from other local authority services, the consequences will include a reduction in the quality and extent of the public bus service for all users; and calls on the Government to review the funding structure for the concessionary bus fare scheme to ensure that local authorities are fully compensated.