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Helen Liddell Meeting
Scotland Wide
Free Travel
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Notice of Meeting
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NPC Parliament
2005
NPC &
Pensioners Charter
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The Edinburgh RMA Branch meets on the last Thursday of each
month at 2 pm at the Beaverbank Business Park.
The
T&G RMA Biennial Delegate Conference took place in London on Wednesday 27
March, presided over by
Jack Jones, and covered important issues such as the National Health
Service, Community Care, and Pensions to be linked to average
earnings. The Off Peak Free Concessionary Travel burning
question is also being followed up with the Transport Ministers
for Scotland and England respectively, Iain Gray MSP and the Rt
Hon John Spellar MP. BDC Policy is for a Uniform Scheme for
Pensioners and the Disabled with no boundaries throughout the
UK.
The
Branch attendance is normally open to anyone and to new ideas
and suggestions. We also share information regarding Pensioners
Benefits and Entitlements.
Campaign
for boundary-free nationwide free travel for pensioners and the
disabled
Read
extract from Letter from the leader of the City of Edinburgh
Council
Councillor Donald Anderson and
extract from his report
Report of T&G RMA
deputation meeting at city chambers with leader of Edinburgh
City Council 25 September 2002
Scotlands pensioners deserve first class travel -T&G
To enable a
meaningful and constructive meeting, background correspondence
and the RMA Press Release that gave full details of issues to be
raised had been forwarded to the Leader of The Edinburgh City
Council, Donald Anderson prior to the meeting.
The RMA, which has 170 branches across the UK and has
pensioners' champion Jack Jones as its President, continues to
campaign for boundary-free nationwide free travel for pensioners
and the disabled. The T&G RMA Deputation for the Meeting with
the Leader of the Council consisted of, Chairman Robert Armour,
Treasurer Frank McKenzie, Executive Member John Crichton,
(Former leading Edinburgh Councillor who introduced the first
Unrestricted UK free travel scheme in the seventies) and
Secretary George Henderson.
Summary of the discussion that
took place at the meeting:-
The deputation indicated that they were working in concert with
other sister organisations and the National Pensioners
Convention (NPC). They made it perfectly clear that pensioners
and the disabled were grateful and appreciative of the latest
concessionary travel improvements and were not attacking the
Local Authority, but believed ultimately the case for Treasury
funding of boundary-free nationwide free travel for pensioners
and the disabled is unanswerable.
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From Left to Right: Frank McKenzie, Bob Armour,
John Crichton, & George Henderson |
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RMA Secretary George Henderson had already written to Transport
Minister Iain Gray about the considerable disquiet arising from
the Scottish Executive's new OAP Concessionary Travel Scheme,
which pensioners had expected to provide free nationwide
boundary-free travel throughout Scotland. The Minister advised
Mr Henderson that this was a devolved matter. The Deputation
felt that Scotland's senior citizens are treated as second-class
pensioners compared to the superior free concessionary fare
schemes in Wales, Ireland, and in particular London. Evidence
was presented that In 32 London boroughs, pensioners have a
"Freedom Pass" to travel on any bus, tube, or train at no cost
at all anywhere in London, with no problems of Borough
boundaries and no time limits after 9 a.m. This posed the
obvious question; Do Scotland's senior citizens deserve anything
less? There is widespread public support for a system of
concessionary travel that ends disparities in local provision.
The communications regarding concessionary travel schemes leave
a great deal to be desired and we are seeking clarification of
the City of Edinburgh Council Concessionary Travel proposals. We
are also concerned about the formula used to determine funding,
which needs to reflect the interests of both rural and urban
pensioners, and the validity of bus companies monitoring of
appropriate passenger numbers. The Deputation concluded their
remarks by emphasising that their concerns could be resolved by
implementation of their ultimate belief that the case for
Treasury funding of boundary-free nationwide free travel for
pensioners and the disabled is unanswerable. To be pursued
further with The Scottish Executive.
The Council Leader Donald Anderson extended a warm welcome to
the RMA Deputation and dealt with the issues raised. Explanation
was given that the Bus Operators had previously subsidised 10
pence in respect of the 30 pence concessionary fare, but had now
decided to withdraw this subsidy and this was the reason that
the off peak charge for travel before 9.30am had to be raised by
10 pence to 40 pence. This would take effect at the introduction
of the concessionary free travel scheme. The existing bus pass
would continue to be valid up to the expiry date of the pass.
The Deputations' view on this issue was, that apart from
pensioners' with essential hospital appointments, and their
having genuine concern for people requiring public transport to
go to work, the majority of pensioners were unlikely to travel
before 9.30am.
Regarding the questions raised about the formula used to
determine funding, and the validity of the bus operators
monitoring of passenger numbers, The Leader believed Edinburgh
received good value. With regard to the concerns expressed by
the Deputation, including the anomalies created by
district-by-district schemes and the case for Treasury funding
for boundary-free nationwide free travel, he accepted that the
discussions on all of these matters raised were not going to be
closed down. Councillor Anderson made Reference to COSLA and
said he was prepared to refer our submissions to a Committee for
consideration of a possible follow up with the Scottish
Executive. He would be forwarding a report of our meeting as
appropriate. In support of the pensioners case the Deputation
submitted as evidence, extracts from the NPC Booklet "Ticket to
Ride". The NPC Booklet "Ticket To Ride" by Bob Sears, had been
forwarded to Transport Ministers by Mr Henderson six months ago
with a covering letter on the 8th of April.
The Council Leader was advised that communications had been
forwarded seeking support from MP's MSP's and Councillors. It
was agreed at the Leader's request, that we would keep each
other advised of our respective communications in this regard.
The Deputation thanked the Leader of The Council for providing
facilities for the meeting, which ended at 3pm.
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