HOLMES CHALLENGES PRIME MINISTER, AT QUESTION TIME, OVER BUS FARES FIASCO

Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield Paul Holmes today challenged Gordon Brown over the Government's failure to properly fund the Concessionary Bus Fares scheme.

Paul told the Prime Minister

"Forty five council staff in Chesterfield are about to lose their jobs to pay for mistakes made by the Government when introducing the National Concessionary Bus Fares Scheme last year.

"Over thirty councils have been badly underfunded with Chesterfield Borough Council under-funded by £1.5million. Others however have been given too much money, next door Bolsover has been given £400,000 too much.

"There is still time for the Prime Minister to intervene with the Department of Transport, sort out this mess and save these 45 jobs. Will he do so?

Afterwards Paul said:

"..The Prime Ministers answer was hopeless and an insult to the 45 people whose jobs are going. He said that Chesterfield had received an extra £400,000 to pay for the scheme. They did- but its £1.5million LESS than is needed.

"He said that I had had a recent meeting with Ministers. I did, but I got no answer about any immediate action that would save these jobs.

"He failed to promise or say anything at all about those losing their jobs because of a Government error.

"No wonder he refused to meet any real Chesterfield people when he called in at the railway station back in January."