High Court Decision on Concessions
Page 44
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THE decision of Mr. Justice Harrnan in the Chancery Division that the cost of issuing free passes to old-age Pensioners, blind persons and disabled ex-Servicemen should be based on the division of the total yearly expenditure of the undertaking by the total number of journeys made by fare-paying passengers and pass-holders has been conveyed to Liverpool Transport Committee.
Concessions are allowed on Liverpool Municipal Transport buses whichiaperate in Liverpool and in several adjoining authorities' areas. Under the Public Service Vehicles (Travel Concessions) Act, 1955, certain boundaries were fixed within which residents are permitted to enjoy free travel provided that the council in whose area the residents live arc willing to reimburse the operators towards• the cost.
Liverpool City. Council decided to contribute £2 10s. annually to the trans
port undertaking for each free pass issued to residents in Liverpool, and all the other local authorities served by their buses, except Litherland Urban District Council, agreed to contribute £2 a head.
Litherland council asked the High Court to interpret the Act as meaning that the cost had to be judged by the actual administrative cost of the scheme —for example, printing and distribution of passes—but Mr. Justice Harman said that it did not seem to him unfair to estimate the, cost on an average basis and that there was, in fact, no other way of doing it. He would, therefore, adopt the method put forward by Liverpool Corporation.
Litherland has a population of 24,390. In July, 1955, there were 715 old-age pensioners, 38 blind persons, 18 disabled exServicemen and a disabled civilian with travel concessions. The decision is still subject to a possible appeal by Litherland.