(1)Chapter VIII of Part IV of the [1999 c. 29.] Greater London Authority Act 1999 (travel concessions on journeys in and around Greater London) has effect subject to the following amendments.
(2)Section 240 (travel concessions on journeys in and around Greater London) is amended as follows.
(3)In subsections (1) and (2), for “any persons eligible to receive them in accordance with subsection (5) below” substitute “such of the persons eligible to receive them in accordance with subsection (5) below as are specified in the arrangements”.
(4)In subsection (5), for “are persons, or any description of persons,” substitute “by an authority are persons appearing to the authority to be persons” and for paragraphs (b) and (c) substitute—
“(b)who are blind;
(c)who are partially sighted;
(d)who are profoundly or severely deaf;
(e)who are without speech;
(f)who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk;
(g)who do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms;
(h)who have a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; or
(i)who, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the [1988 c. 52.] Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their applications refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.”
(5)After that subsection insert—
“(5A)The Secretary of State may issue guidance to local authorities to which they must have regard in determining whether a person falls within subsection (5)(b) to (i) above.
(5B)Before issuing guidance under subsection (5A) above the Secretary of State shall consult—
(a)the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee;
(b)associations representative of local authorities; and
(c)such other persons as he thinks fit.”
(6)In section 241(1) (reserve free travel scheme), after “provided for” insert “all”.
(7)Section 242 (requirements as to scope of concessions which must be given if free travel scheme is not to have effect) is amended as follows.
(8)In subsection (1), after “provide” insert “(a)” and insert at the end “; and
(b)for the travel concessions granted to them to include the concession specified in subsection (8) below.”
(9)In subsection (2), for “Those journeys” substitute “The journeys referred to in subsection (1)(a) above”.
(10)In subsection (5), for “The requirements of this section as to scope do” substitute “Subsection (1)(a) above does”.
(11)In subsection (7), for “the categories of such residents mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c)” substitute “a category specified in any one of the paragraphs”.
(12)After that subsection insert—
“(8)The travel concession which must be included is a half-price concession for each journey on the London bus network which begins—
(a)at any time on a Saturday or Sunday or on any day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales under the [1971 c. 80.] Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971; or
(b)in the period from midnight to 4.30 a.m, or the period from 9.30 a.m. to midnight, on any other day.
(9)In subsection (8) above “half-price concession”, in relation to a journey, means the reduction of the fare for the journey to not more than one-half of that applicable to an adult who is not entitled to any reduction.
(10)The Secretary of State may by order amend this section for or in connection with securing that subsection (8) above provides for the reduction of fares to less than one-half of those applicable to adults who are not entitled to any reduction or for waiver of fares.”
(13)In section 243 (requirements as to uniformity), after subsection (5) insert—
“(6)No charge may be made for the issue to an eligible London resident of a travel concession permit relating to the travel concession specified in section 242(8) above.”