Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department made an assessment, as part of its decision to remove time restrictions on the use of disabled persons’ concessionary bus passes from 1 April 2027, of the potential merits of extending the statutory concession to (a) local rail, (b) light rail, (c) tram and (d) metro services; and whether she has made an estimate of the cost of such an extension.

The Government has not formally assessed the merits or cost of extending the statutory concession to local rail, light rail, tram or metro services as part of the decision to remove the existing off-peak time restrictions on disabled persons’ bus passes from 1 April 2027.

The Government's decision relates specifically to the statutory entitlement under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), which provides free bus travel for eligible older and disabled people in England. Local authorities in England have the power to go beyond their statutory obligations under ENCTS and offer additional discretionary concessions, including on other modes of transport. Decisions on such discretionary concessions are a matter for individual local authorities, taking account of local needs and priorities.

West Northamptonshire Council will be allocated £18 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29.