Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much bus companies are reimbursed per journey for disabled bus pass holders; and whether this is a fixed rate across regions.

Reimbursement rates under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) are not typically split between disabled and older passholders. However, the average rate of reimbursement for both statutory and discretionary concessionary journeys in 2023/24 was £1.44 for England outside of London (£1.17 for England) but varies by area.

Bus operators must be reimbursed on a ‘no better and no worse off’ basis for carrying concessionary passholders. The reimbursement rate is not a fixed rate across England as it is dependent on local conditions such as fares and the cost of carrying concessionary passengers for additional journeys made under the scheme.

The Department for Transport issues reimbursement guidance and a calculator to facilitate the reimbursement rates from Local Transport Authorities to operators.