Labour refuses to rule out scrapping bus passes for some pensioners

Minister says he can’t offer a ‘concrete commitment for all time’ on the free travel benefit because of the state of the public finances

A government minister has failed to rule out means testing free bus passes for pensioners.
Lord Hendy, the rail minister, was asked on Monday to promise the benefit would not be restricted to the poorest pensioners.
He played down the likelihood of a change but said given the state of the public finances he could not offer a “concrete commitment for all time”.
The comments are likely to fuel speculation that the Government could at some point decide that not all pensioners should get free bus passes.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces a backlash over the decision to end winter fuel payments for all, with only those on pension credit to receive the payments of up to £300.
The policy will be put to a vote of the House of Commons on Tuesday. Dozens of Labour MPs are expected to abstain while a smaller number could vote against.
Older people in Britain are offered discounted bus fares when they reach a certain age. The amount of financial support they receive varies in different parts of the county.
In London, the Freedom Pass allows someone aged 66 to travel without charge on the bus, Underground and Overground. In other parts of the UK, anyone over 60 can get free bus travel.
Lord Moylan, the Conservative peer, said the Government had shown a “cavalier” attitude to pensioners during questions in the House of Lords on Monday.
He asked: “The minister is right to emphasise the importance of bus services. I would say particularly for the elderly. I speak as somebody who has reached pension age myself.
“In that light, and given the Government’s should we say cavalier attitude to pensioners that we’ve seen on display, can he give an unshakable commitment that the Government is going to maintain the national bus pass and also the statutory Freedom Pass scheme in London?
“Or is there the possibility that they too could find themselves subject to means testing?”
Lord Hendy, who was made a transport minister in July, responded: “I share the noble Lord’s enthusiasm for the Freedom Pass scheme at my age.
“He’s attempting to put me in the invidious position of a concrete commitment for all time.
“The Freedom Pass and the national scheme for free travel for pensioners has lasted a very long time and I think we would all hope that it continues into the future.
“The Government is not in a good position with the state of the public finances that it’s been left with.
“But we will bear his enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of many other people for free travel for elderly people on buses in mind as we move forward with our commitments for the bus service.
Helen Whateley, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Not content with cutting pensioners’ winter fuel payments, Labour have now thrown doubt on the status of their bus passes too.
“It’s clear Labour think cost of living pressures don’t apply to older people. But pensioners with fixed incomes can be hardest hit when costs go up or help is taken away.
“With the Budget still to come, I fear Labour are just getting going on picking pensioners’ pockets.”