Fares on rates?
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A SUGGESTION that transport operators rather than local authorities should operate concessionary fares schemes was rejected by the Government last week.
Sir Anthony Meyer (Tory, Flint West), who put forward the idea in the Commons, said that it would mean rates could then be used for others in greater need.
But John Horam, Under Secretary for Transport, did not agree. The operators had difficulties already in meeting their existing obligations, without seeking to put on them the onus of bringing in concessionary fares, he said.
There was a wellestablished system in respect of concessionary fares, but there had been difficulties because some local authorities were refusing to operate schemes.
Mr Horam said there were 56 districts with no schemes at all, of which 23 were Torycontrolled and none Labourcontrolled.
John Watkinson (Labour, Gloucestershire West) asked that when county plans were drawn up there should be an effort to ensure that schemes of a similar nature were running in each part of the county.
Mr Horam looked on this as a good suggestion, and urged county authorities to consider the matter.