The original intention of the statutory minimum bus travel concession scheme was to provide access to essential local services and to help prevent social isolation. The scheme was introduced as an off-peak concession only, when there is likely to be unused capacity on buses.<\/p>
However, the Government recognises the importance of accessible transport for disabled people, and the Department continues to work with the Department for Work and Pensions and other Government Departments on this issue, as well as with local authorities and the transport sector.<\/p>
<\/p>
Local authorities have the powers of their own to offer concessions over and above the statutory minimum, including peak hour travel.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-04T12:42:38.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Concessions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason disabled people in receipt of a free bus pass are not permitted to use that pass before 9.30am between Monday to Friday; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that provision on the ability of disabled people to access employment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/304", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hall Green"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Roger Godsiff"} ], "uin" : "1200"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348632", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348632/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "