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<p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>Concessionary travel schemes are considered
to be public service obligations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Legislation requires
bus operators to accept statutory concessionary bus pass holders for free travel on
off-peak journeys within England, and are reimbursed for doing so. Bus operators may
not solicit or accept payment for such journeys.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Reimbursement
is provided on the basis that operators are “no better and no worse off” for carrying
concessionary pass holders, and we therefore do not believe this to constitute a subsidy.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes guidance to help authorities calculate
appropriate reimbursement rates. We are unaware of any cross-subsidy between fare
paying and concessionary pass holding passengers occurring in rural areas or elsewhere.
</p><p> </p>
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