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I totally agree Roger, it is state dependency. Stagecoach, along with other 'private' bus operators receive around £2.4bn from the department of transport and local authorities, this includes the subsidies that incorporate these fares allowing 'freedom' to young people. These wonderful and well used passes not only allow young people to get to school, a fundemental right and legal obligation, but also to get to shopping centres and leisure facilities placed out of town by short sighted council planning departments....tell me where the choice is there Sue.
With the tax payer stumping up £400m a year in fuel subsidies to these companies, when bonuses to share holders exceed this figure, you are right in talking about State dependency. These companies, much like the rail companies (in some cases the same bunch) are too dependent on hand outs from the state but happy to charge us more for this exploitation. Rail fares have gone up 12.7% in this part of the country(the highest increase nationally)but I bet shareholders will still see their returns.
In an amusing twist Stagecoach recently appealed to the government to not let this reduction in subsidies effect tickets prices (what we are seeing here) they suggested cuts should instead be made to the investment in roads and motorways. Again this shows their disregard for the infrastructure provided by the state that allows them to make money.
Sue, I think you may have something there, people have it too easy these days. My grandad used to go to school by horse. Surely parents could cut out that holiday and buy each child a horse...problem solved. Even better his father didn't go to school "and it never did him any harm" so perhaps parents that would rather go on holiday could just not send their kids to school. They would also save money as they would not have to go in holiday time...they could spend the spare cash on extra horses.
Lesley, wonderful compassionate posts, keep it up. (that bit was serious)