Greater London Authority

Press Release

Londoners join fight to defend the Freedom Pass
5-6-2007 331

Yesterday London Councils launched an unprecedented attack on the Freedom Pass. A London Councils statement yesterday attacked the arrangements that provide the funding for the Freedom Pass, complaining that ‘any increase in the cost of the pass impacts on London’s council tax payers’.

Crucially, London Councils has singled out for attack the fact that the London free travel scheme is different to the rest of the country, and calls for the government to be the ultimate arbiter of the Freedom Pass.
Over the last few months London Councils has sponsored Parliamentary amendments calling for the abolition of the Mayor of London’s guarantee of the Freedom Pass.

The Transport and Environment Committee of London Councils received a briefing ‘Concessionary fares – update on 2007/08 negotiations and introduction of national off peak bus concession from 2008’ on 14th September 2006, which agreed that they should lobby 'for the abolition of the London reserve scheme.'

London Councils have recently stepped up their attacks, calling on the government to abolish the reserve scheme that allows the mayor to guarantee the concession if the is no agreement on the funding for the Freedom Pass.

Other recent attacks included one by Cllr Phil Taylor, a prominent Ealing Councillor and blogger, who recently argued on his website that the Freedom Pass should be “re-targeted” away from most pensioners to the “very old”.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said:

"Yesterday’s attack on the Freedom Pass by the body that is supposed to protect it shows that there is now a real attack on this concession. London Councils says it wants to keep the Freedom Pass but all its activity is aimed at undermining it. The Freedom Pass is one of the most popular policies ever introduced on London's transport system, but there is now a clear and sustained attack on the Freedom Pass, this time over its funding scheme. Older Londoners and disabled Londoners should be under no illusion - the basis of the Freedom pass is now under repeated attack.

"At present I have the power to step in and guarantee the Freedom Pass if the London boroughs cannot agree between themselves. This guarantee is the safety net on which the continuation of the Freedom Pass scheme can be ensured, and any attack on it is a threat to the future of the concession."

Graeme Matthews, Secretary of the London Older People’s Strategies Group, said:
“The London Older People’s Strategies Group completely support the Mayor’s statement on the need to maintain the freedom pass in its current form and are deeply concerned about the moves to abolish the Mayor’s guarantee of the scheme. Withdrawal or restriction of the current travel pass would destroy at a stroke the massive and unique contribution of older and disabled people to the life of the city and disastrously restrict the lives of over a million Londoners.”

Haqeeq Bostan, Director of Independent Living Alternatives said:
"The freedom pass gives disabled and older people in London a real opportunity to live independent lives. Any restrictions on the use of the freedom pass would seriously undermine the ability of disabled and older people to participate in community activities, visit friends and family and make the necessary choices to remain active and independent in their community.”

Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care, said:
“The Freedom Pass is much valued by older Londoners and their families. It makes living in London a lot easier for older people and provides independence, flexibility and freedom. Quite rightly older people are angry about any threat to the future of the Freedom Pass.”

The Freedom Pass provides for free travel for Londoners over the age of 60 on the tube, DLR, bus, and tram after 9 am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Disabled people can travel at any time. The amount that each council contributes towards the scheme reflects the number of Freedom Pass holders resident in their borough.

Under existing arrangements, if the London boroughs have not reached agreement with Transport for London by 31 December before the next financial year then the statutory reserve scheme comes into effect at a cost determined by Transport for London, effectively ensuring that the concession cannot be watered down or under-funded. Without free travel on public transport, many older residents would find it impossible to get to the shops or visit family and friends.

The scheme provides vital savings for the average pensioner, cutting the cost of travel by hundreds of pounds a year. For many Londoners, the Freedom Pass is relied on as a vital means of support and the difference between living a dignified independent life and one of poverty and exclusion.

Notes to Editors

Claims by London Councils of a huge increase in the cost to the boroughs of running the Freedom Pass are misleading. On average there has been an annual increase of 1 per cent above inflation when the extension of the scheme to include men from age 60, and to give disabled people all day free travel is considered. This reflects the fact that many more people are now using the Freedom Pass following the massive improvements we have made to the transport system.
Independent Living Alternatives (ILA) was established in May 1989 to promote the right of disabled people to live independently.
The London Older People’s Strategies Group (LOPSG) is an umbrella forum for older people’s organisations and individuals. It was set up in 2000 to engage with the Mayor of London on issues affecting the lives of London’s older people, and is recognised as the principal forum through which the Mayor consults with older Londoners. LOPSG is entirely run by active volunteers and dependent on charitable funding.
Counsel and Care is a national charity getting the best care and support for older people, their families and carers. They do this by providing advice, information and financial support and by influencing policies, services and funding.

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