Concessionary travel passes

Dear Sir

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information and will respond to you in due course.

Yours faithfully

Zoë Bloomfield
Corporate Information Officer
South Bucks District Council
Capswood
Oxford Road
Denham
Bucks UB9 4LH
01895 837357

show quoted sections

For the attention of Robert Eriksohn
Whatdotheyknow.com

Dear Sir

In response to your request under the provision of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 with regard to concessionary travel arrangements:

1. Does your authority provide concessionary travel passes to those
individuals registered with their local Social Services department as
disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor?

Yes free bus passes are given to people with some mental disabilities as
well as those with physical disabilities. If the mental disability comes
under any of the criteria as described as 'eligible disabled' as set out
below the applicant would be entitled to a free pass. If a mental health
problem that has long-term effects on their ability to carry out normal
day-to-day activity then this a disability.

'Long term' is defined as an impairment that has lasted, or is likely to
last, at least 12 months.

What is 'eligible disabled'?

A person is 'eligible disabled ' if any of the following applies:

* they are blind or partially sighted
* they are profoundly or severely deaf
* they are without speech
* they have a disability which has a substantial and long-term adverse
effect on their ability to walk they do not have arms or have
long-term loss of the use of both arms they have a learning
disability you would, if they applied for a licence to drive a motor
vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have their
application refused under section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) on
grounds other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

2. If your authority does have such arrangements why was the decision
taken to extend the scheme is this way and what arrangements are in place?

The Council is compliant with the national scheme which it is required to
operate. The decision is not a local one.

3. If your authority does not have such arrangements does your authority
have some other arrangement beyond the statutory minimum to provide passes
to those with mental health issues?

The Council does not offer any additional scheme other than that described
above which follows the national scheme's criteria for 'eligible
disabled'.

4. If your authority does not have such arrangements why was the decision
taken not to extend the scheme in this way and has consideration been
given to extending the scheme in this way in the future?

The Council follows the guidelines of the national scheme. Should the
national scheme be modified the Council would of course revise delivery of
the scheme at a local level.

5. Would it be possible to provide copies of any relevant policy
documents you have have?

Information related to the scheme can be found on the South Bucks District
Council website

[1]http://www.southbucks.gov.uk/transport__...

I hope this answers your questions but if you feel that it does not, you
can contact me with your queries. You also have the right to request an
internal review of your request and ultimately to complain to the
Information Commissioner should you still be unhappy with the outcome.
You should direct any queries or complaints to me before progressing any
complaint to the Information Commissioner. If you would like more
information about the role and work of the Information Commissioner go to
their website [2]www.ico.gov.uk.

Yours faithfully

Zoë Bloomfield
Corporate Information Officer
South Bucks District Council

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