Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing discounted rail and coach travel for single veterans.

The HM Forces railcard provides concessionary travel for military personnel and their families. This railcard arises from an agreement between the rail industry and the Secretary of State for Defence. Transport for London’s veterans scheme arises from a similar agreement with the Secretary of State. Such railcards are administered and controlled by the Railcard Scheme council and therefore any new railcard or extension of the HM Forces railcard would be for the Scheme council to instigate and to make arrangements with the Secretary of State for Defence.

There is no national statutory concessionary scheme for coach travel. Any concessionary scheme for groups, such as veterans, would be at the discretion of the carriers who are private commercial operators.