Concessionary Travel
Debate between Karen Lumley and Andrew Bridgen(13 years, 12 months ago)
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Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)
My constituency is very similar to that of my hon. Friend; it has both urban and rural areas. My district council has currently budgeted to spend £887,000 on the concessionary fare scheme this year, and it will receive a specific grant of £196,000 to meet part of that cost. However, my county council is concerned that, when this spending on concessionary travel passes to county councils, the formula grant will be reduced by more than that £691,000 shortfall—many other Members have expressed similar concerns about shortfalls today—and that that would put added pressure on a budget that has already been cut by 25%. If we want to avoid rural isolation, we must have a guarantee that we will not have a shortfall.
Karen Lumley
I agree with my hon. Friend and I look forward to hearing the Minister’s reply to the debate in a few moments’ time.
The Government have promised to examine smarter ways of administering the bus service operators grant subsidies, as well as a system that more clearly—