John Denham has welcomed the news that Southampton’s pensioners and disabled people are at last to get the nationwide bus passes they are entitled to – over two months late.

The City Council is to start sending out the new passes, which should have been in pensioners’ hands by the 1st April, next week.  The Concessionary Bus Fares Act received Royal Assent in July 2007 and most councils planned for the new passes last year.

John Denham said “The Labour Government announced last year that people over 60 and some disabled people would be entitled to free nationwide travel. The Labour Government provided the money to pay for it and gave local councils ample time to prepare the new passes. Why Southampton’s Conservative Council was so inefficient at providing them on time is something of a mystery – especially as they frequently and falsely claimed the credit for introducing the nationwide scheme. I am very glad that the Council is finally to get around to sending the new passes out. I hope that pensioners are now able to take advantage fully of this opportunity to travel anywhere on local buses.”