Ministers are deciding whether to back a Commons motion after pleas from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority chairman Roger Jones to spread a London experiment for free passes to the rest of the country.
Coun Jones said: "I have written to government ministers Harriet Harman, Ruth Kelly and Hazel Blears and they are considering it. I was speaking to Ken Livingstone who says free fares for under-18s works really well in London."
The transport authority hosted a parliamentary tea for MPs and others, where there was also a boost for train travellers when Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly insisted that the sudden announcement of big rail plans for Manchester was not an election stunt and they WILL go ahead.
She told the M.E.N: "It is a priority if mine and it is absolutely essential that we work out our plans properly. I am convinced that it would help the whole of the north."
Junior transport minister Rosie Winterton made a shock announcement two weeks ago that the government had ordered a feasibility study into improving Piccadilly and its approaches and in what was thought at the time to be a prelude to a General Election.
Improvements, which could cost £2bn, will enable more and faster trains to operate across the north. There could be a new rail link between Piccadilly and Victoria and measures to ease congestion on platforms 13 and 14.
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gladys rowbotham, Manchester (20/10/2007 at 08:32)
On what basis is Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority chairman Roger Jones making his plea for free travel for under 18's?
It appears that Coun Jones has been speaking to Ken Livingstone (no less!) who says free fares for under-18s works really well in London. Oh what a surprise - Ken's opinion on something he had initiated himself! What criteria does Mr Livingstone use? Where is his evidence? Or is it his uninformed opinion?
Of course I wasn't at the " parliamentary tea for MPs and others" that Coun Jones hosted. No doubt Coun Jones submitted a full and thorough justification there and then. No doubt he referred to the fact that nothing is really free - it's just that someone else pays! He probably explained the impact on those who would have to pay for this scheme and listed all the other drawbacks of providing something for nothing. No doubt he referred to his own extensive experience of travelling on buses during the bedlam during the school and college rush hours!
I certainly hoped they had enough tea!
Constructive comment: Half fare for ALL bona fide students! End of story!