Treasury admits failure to consider effect of bus pass delay

5.00.00pm GMT Tue 16th May 2006

The Government has admitted that it failed to consider how delaying cross-district free bus travel scheme would affect elderly people, David Howarth MP revealed today.

Mr. Howarth had questioned the Treasury over the proposed two-year delay before introducing funding for cross-district free off-peak bus travel for pensioners.

Mr. Howarth commented:

"In Cambridge and the nearby districts the Government did not provide enough funding to allow the district councils to introduce cross-district free off-peak travel, causing confusion for passengers in and around the City.

"The Government made a complete mess of the free bus pass scheme and are planning to wait two whole years before they provide the funding to fix it. I am amazed that they never considered what effect this wait would have on elderly passengers and local councils struggling with the current system."