Two women in their 60s are to embark on a 700-mile journey across England using free bus passes to get them around. Manju Ghosh, 60, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, and her friend, 66-year-old Christine Jackson, from Sheffield, will begin their trip on Tuesday.
Free off-peak bus travel for over-60s and disabled travellers is being extended so they can travel anywhere in England using a single pass. Up to 11m people will benefit from the new National Travel Pass smart cards. But an MPs' report has warned many buses may not be equipped to read them.
Responding to the news that the Government is considering personal NHS budgets, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:
The Liberal Democrats force a parliamentary debate on the concessionary bus fares scheme.
Norman Baker (Lewes) (LD): I welcome this important debate and thank the Government for making time available for it. I agree with the Minister, who said that the scheme is welcome. It will tackle social exclusion, help the environment and enable people who would otherwise be in their houses to get out and travel. All those outcomes are good. I do not subscribe to Mrs. Thatcher's view that anyone over 30 who uses a bus is a failure, as she said on one occasion. I am happy that people over 60 use buses, as do people of my age.
A Carlisle woman who falsely claimed £23,000 in disability benefits has been warned she faces jail.