The Island’s MP Andrew Turner took the opportunity to raise again the issue of free public transport provision for Island pensioners with the Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton MP, during a debate on the Local Transport Bill last week
Mr Turner said:
“The Government have introduced a scheme where pensioners and disabled travellers in England can take advantage of free off-peak bus travel throughout the whole of the mainland. It seems grossly unfair that, due to the geography of the Island, my constituents cannot take full advantage of the scheme. Despite my previous representations, ferry travel has been completely excluded.”
From 1st April free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled travellers has been extended so they can travel anywhere in England using a single pass.
Mr Turner said:
“From today a pensioner or disabled traveller from Southampton could travel to Newcastle free of charge. If someone from the Isle of Wight wanted to do the same, they would have no option other than to buy a ferry ticket – that is completely unfair.
“The Minister says that the Isle of Wight Council could extend the scheme to cover ferries but the Council already supports extra provision, such as bus services outside of core hours. She has completely failed to address the point. What we are talking about here is an issue of fairness where a Government scheme is discriminating against Islanders. I will be writing to the Minister and raising the matter again with her.”
END
Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) (Con): We on the island are hopeful that the Office of Fair Trading will be persuaded to look into market failure regarding ferries. However, provision of free public transport for elderly people is outside its remit. Elderly people can travel by bus, free of charge, when visiting relatives in other parts of the mainland. Why are my elderly constituents penalised by being forced to pay for a ferry if they want to visit a relative outside their constituency? I hope that that is something that the Minister can look into.
Ms Winterton: I am not sure why the hon. Gentleman is bringing the OFT into this. I think he is referring to the national concessionary fares scheme, which we debated in the House last night and the Labour Government introduced. He is right: something like 11 million people over 60 and disabled people will benefit from it this year, but it is true that that is confined to buses. It is open to local authorities to extend the scheme if they wish to do so. He may like to approach his local authority to see whether it wishes to extend the scheme to the ferry service, which it is at liberty to do with the discretionary powers available to it.
The full text of the debate can be found at the following link:-
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080326/debtext/80326-0004.htm#08032669000002
Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
