New laws prompt increase in concessions take-up, says new report.
The introduction of a new national minimum half-fare pass for concessionary fares has prompted up to 20% more pensioners to take up the concession, a new report suggests.
Concessionary Fares UK 2003, published by leading UK transport consultants TAS, is based on a survey of UK local authorities undertaken in 2001, and builds on three previous reports published during the 1990s.
The survey found that, based on a sample of 63 authorities, pass issues increased by 21.5% increase in Wales and by 16.5% in the English Districts after the introduction of the new system in 2001. English Unitary authorities reported a 13% increase, whilst four Shire Counties reported 12%. In PTE areas, where there were few changes, the increase reported was 2.7%.
The report estimates that London authorities have the highest take-up rates in the country, on 83.5%. In the English PTE areas, the figure is 81.2%, but it falls to 69% in Scotland, 56% in the English unitary authorities, 52% in Wales and around 36% in the English shire counties.
Spending on concessionary fares reached a total of £574m in 2002/03 – the equivalent of over £46 per head of people qualified to received concessions. However, spend per qualified person varies widely around the country, from just £17.29 in the English shires to over £137 in London. Despite the recent changes, spending in the shires remains 10% lower in real terms than ten years ago.
Commenting on the report, TAS director Chris Cheek said, "The changes introduced by the 2000 Transport Act seem to have had a positive effect on take-up, which can only be good news for everybody concerned." But not all the news is good. "The system remains much too complicated for both consumers and authorities," he added. "The law is now a minefield of discretionary and mandatory provisions, whilst there are still a myriad of different time and geographical restrictions – which makes life for consumers and bus drivers much more complex than it needs to be."
ENDS
For further information, contact Chris Cheek on 0870 900 1440
NOTES TO EDITORS
TAS Publications & Events is the publishing arm of The TAS Partnership. Founded in 1989, TAS has since grown to become the UK’s leading specialist public transport consultancy. Its recent clients include the Department for Transport, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Development Department plus local authorities and transport operators throughout the country.
Concessionary Fares UK 2003 is available, price GBP99.50 plus P&P in hard copy or CD-ROM format at www.tas.uk.net or by telephoning 0870 900 1440.