A NORTH Yorkshire equality campaigner is celebrating a landmark victory in the House of Commons which will enable men over 60 to claim free bus travel.

John Taylor, a retired Norton postman, said he was delighted at news that the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill passed through Parliament last Thursday night.

But despite the bill's success, questions still remain over when it will reach the statute books.

"The Government should have introduced this in the first place, however it is good news it has finally gone through," said Mr Taylor, a member of campaign group Parity.

"The fight will go on, however, because we are still campaigning for equal pension rights."

He said this would continue until men are allowed to collect pensions when they turn 60.

Parity has campaigned on a range of issues over the years. Its aim is to give men 60 and over the same pension rights as women.

"Men are being denied their basic human rights," said Mr Taylor.

"Women are entitled to claim their pensions and free bus passes at the age of 60 whereas men have to wait until they turn 65. It's unfair."

The Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill was given its third reading and was unopposed in the House of Commons late on Thursday evening.

The bill will now pass to the House of Lords who, Mr Taylor hopes, will pass it without hesitation.

"My hope is that it will be put on the statute books this year, because we don't want to have to wait much longer," he added.

"We have fought long and hard for this travel bill and it was only after we took a case to the European Court that the Government's hand was forced on the issue.

"They ruled that the UK Government must come to an appropriate settlement over our case.

"It would have been much simpler had they just passed the bill in the first place.

"My only concern now is that it will be subject to further delay."

Updated: 11:20 Thursday, February 07, 2002