Freedom Pass Restrictions (Supplementary) [5]

Session date:

November 18, 2006

Question By:

Jennette Arnold OBE

Organisation:

Labour Group

Asked Of:

The Mayor

Question

Can I just go back to the figures. In terms of the £10 million gap which London councils are saying they cannot fund? Have you explored whether or not you could find it in TfL's budget, because this is really the thrust of my question? What does that break down to? I do not have to rehearse this with you given the commendable work that you have done, but when we look at the figures, the level of poverty amongst our elders is totally unacceptable for this day and age.

Supplementary To:

Freedom Pass Restrictions

Answer

Answer for Freedom Pass Restrictions (Supplementary) [5]

Answered By:

The Mayor

Date:

Saturday, 18th November 2006

I suspect because this is specifically, in the legislation, defined as a borough scheme, and there are reserve powers for me to take it over if the boroughs cannot agree to operate it, I need to get legal advice. I am not at all certain I can dip in and start funding bits of it. We need to get some legal advice on this. Also, one has to say, we are talking about £300,000 per borough, and it does seem to me that it is time that boroughs looked at this a bit more sympathetically.