21.This section makes provision for operators providing the national concession to England residents to be reimbursed by the travel concession authority for the area in which the journey began. This replaces the previous requirement for English travel concession authorities to reimburse operators only for journeys made wholly in their area by concessionaires resident in their area. The previous reimbursement provisions in respect of the Welsh concession are restated with no substantive change.
22.This section also changes the deadline by which bus operators may appeal against reimbursement arrangements regarding their provision of the national concession, under section 150(3) of the 2000 Act. Subsections (4) to (6) amend section 150(4) of the 2000 Act and add a new section 150(4A) to secure that the deadline for lodging such appeals in respect of reimbursement arrangements determined by English travel concession authorities is extended from 28 days to 56 days. The current arrangements in respect of appeals against reimbursement arrangements set by Welsh authorities are restated with no substantive change.