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Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
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Beith quizzes Minister over cross-border bus pass fiasco
January 22, 2008 5:00 PM
The Transport Minister was quizzed today over the Government's commitment to free bus travel for pensioners, when Berwick MP Alan Beith asked her whether the Department for Transport had discussed cross-border arrangements with the Scottish executive.
The Minister conceded that discussions had taken place as long ago as 2006, but placed the burden of implementing the Government's plans firmly on the local authority - Berwick Borough Council - saying that it should make its own arrangements for concessionary cross-border travel.
Speaking later, Mr Beith slammed the Minister for her response, saying
"It was a pathetic answer. Gordon Brown's concept of Britishness does not count for much when a pensioner cannot cross the border between England and Scotland with a bus pass.
"Border councils like Berwick Borough should not be expected to find extra funds for local arrangements when authorities in the rest of England have no need to do so."
Mr Beith will continue to campaign for a pensioners' bus pass that can be used throughout the UK.
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