Tra58 Subsidies paid for bus and rail travel

16 November 2011

Dear ,

Request for Information – Reference: ATI 5549

I wrote to you on 26 October following your request for information.

In your request you asked for:

1. The total amount spent by the Welsh Government on subsidising, wholly or partially, (A) bus and (B) rail travel for people aged 60 or over and disabled people of all ages in the financial year 10/11.

With regards exclusively to the scheme providing free rail travel for said group of people on the Cambrian Coast railway:

2. The total amount spent by the Welsh Government providing free rail travel under the scheme during the "winter months" period starting 3 October 2010.

3. The total number of free rail tickets issued under the scheme, again during the "winter months" period starting 3 October 2010.

4. The name of the legal entity to which payments are made by the Welsh Government under the scheme.

5. The names of any other entities that contribute to the cost of or are involved in financing the scheme.

6. If available, any statistic or other data that would provide insight as to the ratio of tickets issued for (A) people over 60 and (B) people with disabilities, such as - if collected - separate figures for points 1B, 2 and 3

With regards to other rail ticket subsidies not relating to said group of people:

7. The total amount spent by the Welsh Government on subsidising rail tickets (A) wholly (ie. providing free rail travel) and (B) partially (ie. providing a discount) for students and young people during the year 10/11.

I am providing all of the information which you requested and this is detailed below. I have used your numbering system for ease of reference.

1(a) The total amount of Welsh Government grant funding for subsidising, wholly or partially, bus travel for people aged 60 or over and disabled people of all ages is £56.5m.
Please note this figure is provisional and subject to audit.

1(b) The Welsh Government grant for the 2010 concessionary fares rail scheme was £215,000. The scheme provided free rail travel for eligible passengers aged 60 or over and disabled people of all ages on the Heart of Wales Line and Cambrian Coast Line (winter months only) and all year round on the Borderlands Line and Conwy Valley Line.

With regards to the Concessionary Fares Rail Scheme on the Cambrian Line:

2 The total funding by the Welsh Government for the 2010 scheme on the Cambrian Coast Line was £39,380.

3. The total number of concessionary tickets issued by Arriva Trains Wales on the Cambrian Coast Line for the 2010 scheme was 18,273 which represented 31,540 journeys.

4. Payments are made by the Welsh Government to Arriva Trains Wales.

5. Gwynedd Council also financed the 2010 concessionary fares rail scheme on the Cambrian Coast Line.

6. I have not found any information that provides a ratio of the total tickets issued on the Cambrian Line broken down to separately identify passengers who were over 60 and those with disabilities as you requested.

7. The Welsh Government has not provided any subsidised rail travel for students and young people.

Any information released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be listed in the Welsh Government’s Disclosure Log (at www.information.wales.gov.uk).

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, or you are unhappy with this response, you may request an internal review by writing to:

Tim James, Deputy Director, Networks and Planning, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff. CF10 3NQ

When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the principles set out in the Welsh Government’s Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  Normally, however, you should pursue the matter through our internal procedure before you complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: caswork@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5LJ

Yours sincerely

Mark Price
Rail Unit
Welsh Government