Bus Fare Funding Concerns raised with Minister

Last night Torbay MP Adrian Sanders raised the problem of poor funding for the concessionary bus pass with Transport Minister Paul Clark in the House of Commons.

Torbay Council has estimated a funding shortfall of between £2million and £3million although the Government insists enough money is being paid to local authorities to cover the scheme. 

Adrian highlighted that tourist destinations were being unfairly penalised.  Torbay has to pay for all journeys originating in the Bay even if they are by passengers from other areas of England.

Adrian commented: “There is clearly a serious problem here and I will be working with the Council to urge the Government to provide a fair funding settlement for the scheme.  The problems are not clear cut though and the Government has successfully obscured funding by providing it both through the general funding settlement and through a separate identifiable grant for bus fares.”

“I am still waiting for the Government to give me a breakdown of how they are providing funding to Torbay, that they do this based on estimates and not ring-fenced makes things even more difficult.”

Adrian will be writing to the Minister to push for more clarity on funding.