In the past you have pointed out the problems with the Concessionary Bus Pass scheme.
Many things often seem unfair. Living in a large town there are bus/tram services and I find the concession very valuable, but recalling what I heard recently of a rural area where the reduced opportunity for work resulted in too few paying passengers, so the service was withdrawn and the pass is of no benefit to pensioners.
In some areas, there is a ‘Dial-a-Ride’ service (to take elderly disabled people to the shops). Unfortunately the service is not available to take or collect people from the hospital outpatients. Even 80 year olds who can stagger 400 metres do not qualify, so they have to rely on the normal public bus service.
In an age of benefits, free food banks and an increasing number of elderly with impaired vision, how many would prefer to receive, say £180.00 cash (subject to income tax) instead of a free TV licence?
John Hosking, London
