<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Concessionary travel schemes are considered to be public service obligations.<\/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> Reimbursement is provided on the basis that operators are \u201cno better and no worse off\u201d for carrying concessionary pass holders, and we therefore do not believe this to constitute a subsidy.<\/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>"}
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