Lib Dem councillors call on government to properly fund concessionary bus passes

10.46.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

Watch Jon Freeman speak on concessionary bus passes here: http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/pages/tv.html

On the day the scheme comes into place, Lib Dem-run Lewes District Council has called on the government to properly fund the concessionary bus pass scheme. Watch a video of Jon Freeman, Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council here: http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/pages/tv.html

Local MP Norman Baker is taking action in Parliament to put pressure on the government to stump up the bus pass funding.

Norman said: "The Government's catastrophic handling of concessionary bus fares has left a settlement so tight that councils are cutting back bus services to pay for the scheme. Some elderly people are losing their reduced travel before 9.30am and carers are losing their discounts.

The Government's national concessionary bus scheme is due to lump Council Tax payers with a bill of up to £60m according to new research by the Liberal Democrats.

Despite Government claims that the total grant of £212m for the extension of free bus travel for all over 60s will be sufficient, Freedom of Information requests sent to councils across England by the Liberal Democrats showed that:

• Almost half of the councils are under-funded and the whole scheme could end up costing them up to £60m

• The hardest hit councils are Brighton and Hove and Nottingham which are under-funded by almost £1.7m

• This is equal to Council Tax rises of up to £40 per family

• Demands from bus companies for more reimbursement could push this up to as much as £4m in some areas

Norman Baker, Local Lib Dem MP and Shadow Transport Secretary, last month tabled an Early Day Motion calling for a review of the funding for the concessionary bus fares scheme, which is due to lump Council Tax payers around the country with a bill of up to £60m.

"This scheme will help many poor pensioners, but thanks to terrible accounting from the Government, it will be Council Tax payers across the country who will end up picking up the bill. I am pleased to have been able to table this Lib Dem motion calling for a review of funding for concessionary bus fares.

"With councils facing shortfalls in the millions, it is imperative that the funding for this scheme is re-examined urgently to stop council tax payers paying for the Government's mistakes."

"Yet again the Government is making promises and then expecting others to deliver them.

"The Government should review the funding formula to ensure that no councils are hit too hard."

"Almost half of the councils have been under-funded for this project. The Government has repeatedly refused to review the scheme despite evidence of serious under-funding. It's time for ministers to admit their mistakes and review the funding formula now."