SHOULD our £1,000-plus a week Parliamentarians' summer holidays be cut from three months to six weeks?

I ask this after considering that in December 2000 the European Court of Human Rights gave the Government two months to come to a friendly settlement with the applicant in the parity-sponsored bus pass case (February 2).

Just before this period expired on February 17, 2001 our Government gave a commitment to Early Equalisation at age 60... when parliamentary time allows.

As reported in the Evening Press, we still do not know the date when men over 60 will be able to collect their half-fare bus pass, or other option from their local authority.

Last November, the Minister, John Spellar in response to a question regarding when the introduction date will be for equalisation of travel concession ages, stated that: 'As we said, that would be 2003 at the latest'.

He added: "As for Wales, we expect equalisation for eligibility for travel concessions to start at the same time as in England - that is in April 2003."

Draw your own conclusions.

John Taylor,

York and District Organiser,

Parity.

Updated: 09:27 Saturday, February 16, 2002