PENSIONER TRAVEL

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern the inability of the 12 district authorities in Lancashire to reach an agreement so that pensioners can travel free on buses during off peak hours throughout Lancashire following the Government's scheme for free off peak bus travel within borough boundaries due to start this year; further notes the failure of Stagecoach to ensure that all buses are equipped with the necessary machinery for the new swipe card system by April, resulting in a delay in the implementation of free local bus travel for pensioners in Lancashire; pays tribute to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for announcing free off-peak national bus travel for all pensioners from 2008; and calls on the Government to work with the district authorities in Lancashire to ensure that reciprocal agreements are entered into and pensioners travel free across the county so that pensioners are not penalised for the next two years until the Chancellor's new national scheme is introduced.