Commentary on Sections National concession: journeys beginning on London bus network Section 5: Reserve free travel scheme and Section 6: Requirements as to scope
24.Section 241 of the 1999 Act provides that if, in the view of Transport for London, voluntary arrangements made between it and local authorities under section 240(1) of that Act do not provide certain minimum travel concessions to eligible London residents, then a ‘reserve free travel scheme’ will come into effect which ensures these concessions and others. The terms of the reserve free travel scheme are contained in Schedule 16 to the 1999 Act. Sections 5 and 6 add to the ‘minimum concessions’ (set out in section 242 of the 1999 Act) which must be secured under the section 240(1) arrangements, so that they include the national concession for all eligible England residents travelling on journeys which begin on the London bus network, whether or not they end on it.(5) The changes also ensure that eligible London residents continue to benefit from the enhanced concessions guaranteed under section 242(8) of the 1999 Act (as it was before it was amended by the Act).