Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency

2008 press releases

Local MP reveals Sussex hit for six by £60m bill from concessionary bus fare scheme

The Government's national concessionary bus fare scheme is due to lump Council Tax payers around the country with a bill of up to £60m according to new research by local Lib Dem MP and Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker.

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 by Mr Baker to councils across England showed that:

• Almost half of all councils are under-funded and the whole scheme could end up costing them up to £60m
• Brighton and Hove is one of the hardest hit councils and is under-funded to the tune of £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
• Lewes District Council is facing a shortfall of £170,000

Commenting, Norman Baker said:

"The concessionary bus fares 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.

"Yet again the Government is making promises and then expecting others to deliver them. These figures show that the Government must review the funding formula now to ensure that no councils are hit too hard.

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