MEANS-TESTING FREE BUS PASSES

That this House is deeply concerned at the Deputy Prime Minister's suggestion that pensioner benefits, including bus passes, ought to be means-tested; recognises the tremendous success of the free bus pass with the increased use of public transport, reduced car dependency and improvements to the quality of life of pensioners by allowing them to keep mobile and socially connected; and calls on the Government to resist means-testing and to continue fully funding the free national bus pass scheme for all pensioners.