| Transport Minister Norman Baker gave us an assurance yesterday that free bus passes for over 60s and for certain classes of disability would remain, despite the need to cut public expenditure. 'The Coalition Government has made a specific commitment to retain concessionary fares', he told a meeting of the Concessionary Fares Stakeholders Panel. Although the Department for Transport generally has to make substantial cuts, concessionary fares are exempted from them, he assured the panel. The way bus companies are reimbursed is changing, with county councils and other first-tier authorities making the reimbursements from next April. 'The pot for concessionary fares will stay the same', said Mr Baker, 'but it will be redistributed'. |
