One option being considered is to give county councils responsibility for running the scheme. Currently administration of the scheme is mainly handled by district councils, but the Government believes a change will simplify the system and allow for the more accurate distribution of funding.

Local Authorities receive around £1 billion to fund the statutory concessionary bus pass scheme in their area, which gives 11 million older and disabled people free off-peak bus travel across England.

Paul Clark said;

"Concessionary travel is a successful and popular policy. A recent survey suggests around 95% of the population believe it's right that older and disabled people are entitled to travel for free on off-peak buses.

"We're confident there is enough money in the system, but we need to ensure that the right structures are in place to administer it.

"I look forward to hearing people's views on how to guarantee that pass holders get the most out of this billion pound scheme and concessionary travel remains sustainable for the future."

The administrative arrangements for concessionary travel have remained the same since the statutory minimum bus concession was introduced in 2001. Since then various changes have been made to improve and extend the scope of the concession, and in April last year the limitation of local area only travel was replaced by free England-wide off-peak bus travel.