A row has broken out over the scrapping of free train travel for military personnel attending remembrance services this year.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail companies, said the waiving of the charge for veterans would not apply this year, as it did in 2019 and 2021, as the cost to taxpayers would be "too great", The Guardian reports.
An RDG staff briefing memo reportedly states that anyone who enquires about free travel should be "sensitively told" it is not possible this year.
However, a Transport Department source told The Daily Telegraph that the decision was signed off by senior civil servants at director general level but was never put before ministers.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Transport Secretary, has now insisted that the Government is not scrapping free travel for veterans.
She wrote on social media: "As a proud champion of our armed forces, I'm appalled by reports veterans would pay for their travel to commemorate the fallen. Incorrect.
"Our Armed Forces Covenant is a commitment to go the extra mile for our military. Train travel for veterans for remembrance remains free."
As a proud champion of our armed forces, I’m appalled by reports veterans would pay for their travel to commemorate the fallen. Incorrect.
— Anne-Marie Trevelyan (@annietrev) October 7, 2022
Our #ArmedForcesCovenant is a commitment to go the extra mile for our military. Train travel for veterans for Remembrance remains free. https://t.co/G9boj4g6zZ
Earlier Grant Shapps, the former Transport Secretary sacked by Liz Truss, tweeted criticism after the Guardian report emerged.
Mr Shapps wrote: “Our military veterans have given of themselves to protect us all. It cannot be right to remove this small piece of recognition for their service to the country.
“I trust transport ministers will urgently review and reverse this.”
He later welcomed Ms Trevelyan's assurance that travel for remembrance would remain free, writing: "Good job."
Johnny Mercer, the former veterans minister, told The Guardian: “I’d suggest the prime minister rectifies this immediately, as I’m sure she will be aware how hollow she’ll look at remembrance when her policies are so obviously in the other direction.”
Remembrance Sunday will be held on November 13 this year.
A Number 10 spokesman did not return a request for comment. The RDG said the Department for Transport was handling queries on this issue, and the Department for Transport said Ms Trevelyan's comments should be taken as the official position.
