Half-price bus travel for Kingston jobless (From Your Local Guardian)

Half-price bus travel for Kingston jobless

1:40pm Saturday 17th January 2009 in Kingston By David Lindsell

Hundreds of unemployed Kingston residents will get half-price bus and tram travel from April.

The concession, which will benefit many of the 1,421 residents in Kingston currently receiving Job Seeker's Allowance, is designed to help people back to work by making it easier to travel to interviews, and access libraries, job centres, and other amenities.

The scheme was announced today as part of Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s Economic Recovery Action Plan.

He said: "I want to help the thousands of Londoners who, during these tough times, will find themselves looking for work, by making it easier for them to get around the city when travelling to interviews and accessing other amenities that will help them find jobs ."

The discount, which comes into play on April 1, will be offered through an annual photocard valid for six months to people who have been claiming JSA for 13 weeks.

Concession holders will be able to continue to benefit from the discount for a full six month period, even if they succeed in returning to employment before their concession expires.

For more information call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100.