Concessionary Travel in England

Mr. Eriksohn,

Thank you for your request for information regarding Concessionary Travel
in England. Your request was received on Wednesday 4 February and I am
dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please contact me if you have any queries. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Chadwick

Concessionary Travel and Ticketing Division

Department for Transport

Zone 3/11, Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London, SW1P 4DR

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Dear Mr. Eriksohn,

Thank you for your request for information regarding details of the
mandatory bus concession in England, under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You asked the following questions:

"1. What is the full technical definition of the term 'local bus'

for the purposes of the National Concessionary Fares Scheme?

2. On your website with regards to the National Concessionary Fares

Scheme it states "Those eligible will get free travel on local

buses from 9.30am until 11pm on weekdays, and all day weekends and

bank holidays, across England." does this mean that passes can be

used on busses that are defined as a 'local bus' from 00.00

Saturdays until 23.59 on Sundays or a bank holiday if applicable?

3. Does the start time or end time of eligibility i.e. 09.30 and

22.59 apply to when a bus is timetabled or when it actually

arrives, in case of the former how do you account for bus stops

located between points that are designated as 'timing points?'"

The information sought is reasonably accessible and therefore falls under
an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and does not have to
be supplied. However, for your convenience I briefly set out below
information which may assist.

The term 'local bus' is defined in the Travel Concessions (Eligible
Services) Order 2002, a copy of which is attached to this email. On the
23^rd January this year the Department published a consultation on the
Definition of Eligible Services for the Statutory Bus Concession in
England, which proposes to clarify the existing criteria. Details of this
consultation can be found at the address below:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/clos...

The statutory bus concession guarantees free travel all weekend, from
00:00 Saturday to 23:59 Sunday. This is set out in section 146 of the
Transport Act 2000 which defines relevant time for a concessionary journey
as any time on a Saturday or Sunday or on any day which is a bank holiday
in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

For purposes of eligibility for concessionary travel, the time of the
service is usually considered as when the bus arrives, rather than for
when it is scheduled. This is set out in the Transport Act 2000 Section
145 (1) (b) which speaks of passholder's entitlement to concessionary
travel on those eligible services "beginning at a relevant time". This is
normally interpreted to mean when the bus arrives, although ultimately
this will be a matter for the local authority concerned.

If you require further information on the mandatory bus concession which
cannot be obtained from the Department's website
(http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...) please contact
your local authority in the first instance.

If you are unhappy with the way the Department for Transport has handled
your request or with the decisions made in relation to your request you
may complain within two calendar months of the date of this letter by
writing to me at the above address. Please see attached details of the
Department for Transport's complaints procedure and your right to complain
to the Information Commissioner.from [department] you may ask for an
internal review. You should contact [name of official and address] if you
wish to complain

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Chadwick

Concessionary Travel and Ticketing Division

Department for Transport

Zone 3/11, Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London, SW1P 4DR

Your right to complain to [DfT/Agency] and the Information Commissioner

You have the right to complain within two calendar months of the date of
this letter about the way in which your request for information was
handled and/or about the decision not to disclose all or part of the
information requested. In addition a complaint can be made that DfT has
not complied with its FOI publication scheme.

Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target
date by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be
re-considered by the official who dealt with your request for information.
If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her
decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a
senior independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be
advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a decision is taken to
disclose information originally withheld this will be done as soon as
possible.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.

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