Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport - United ...

5 <strong>Concessionary</strong> travel
English national concessionary travel scheme
72. Since April 2006, in Engl<strong>and</strong>, residents aged 60 <strong>and</strong> over <strong>and</strong> disabled people have been
entitled to free bus travel within their local area after 9.30am <strong>and</strong> before 11pm on weekdays
<strong>and</strong> at all times on weekends <strong>and</strong> bank holidays. Some people have enjoyed additional
concessions, such as travel before 9.30am, as a result of local enhancements paid for by
their local council (travel concession authority).
73. We have looked before at the issue of concessionary travel. Whilst we have welcomed
the principle, we have also raised concerns about the implementation, costs <strong>and</strong> anomalies:
in 2006 we concluded that it was a mess. 69
74. On 1st April 2008 the English national concessionary travel scheme will be launched
<strong>and</strong> the national entitlement will be extended to allow free bus travel across Engl<strong>and</strong>. This
is the latest stage in the development of concessionary travel in Engl<strong>and</strong> (see box), the
result of the <strong>Concessionary</strong> Bus <strong>Travel</strong> Act 2007. We again welcome this move which will
benefit millions of older <strong>and</strong> disabled people. It brings Engl<strong>and</strong> closer to the st<strong>and</strong>ards of
concessionary travel already enjoyed by residents in other parts of the UK.
75. The evidence presented to this inquiry shows that the extension by the Government of
the national concessionary travel st<strong>and</strong>ard is popular <strong>and</strong> generally supported but the
overall policy objectives are unclear. It has stimulated dem<strong>and</strong>s for further concessions. A
few witnesses object to the free travel concession in principle but most are concerned about
the costs, distribution of funds, reimbursement of operators <strong>and</strong> the unintended
consequences, all of which are expected to increase with time.
76. Older <strong>and</strong> disabled people are travelling by bus more often as a result of the free
concessionary fares scheme. However, the extent of the current <strong>and</strong> future benefits
(economic, health, congestion, environmental, etc) <strong>and</strong> value for money are unclear. It is
important that the anecdotal benefits of concessionary travel—reduced social exclusion
<strong>and</strong> isolation for older people, improved health, fewer car trips, etc—are substantiated by
rigorous research. We were not reassured by the Minister’s response that national
concessionary travel was a “political decision”. 70 It may be that concessionary travel
represents such good value for money that it should be extended to other sections of
society or modes of transport, as it has been in London. The Government has undertaken
some preliminary evaluation of the benefits but this needs to go much further. 71
77. The ability to travel for free across the country by bus is a great boon for those who
enjoy it <strong>and</strong> we welcome it. There is, however, no such thing as a free lunch <strong>and</strong> such
funds—over £1 billion per annum—must give value for money. The Department for
69 Transport Committee, Eleventh Report of Session 2005–06, Bus Services across the UK, HC 1317, 26 October 2006
70 Q 440
71 Tickbox.net, National Bus Concession Survey for Department for Transport, Feb 2008
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