What the proposals will mean to you.

Q. If the companies win, will I still have a free bus pass?

A. Yes, but the level of service you receive for free might change. The government has said every council must provide free off-peak travel within its boundaries, and whatever happens you will continue to receive this service. Some authorities have offered more than this, including travel anywhere in the county and at any time of day - these offers are what is under threat.

Q. Will my Council Tax bill go up if the legal challenge is successful?

A. Possibly. It is entirely up to each council to decide what level of service (if any) it wants to provide over and above the government-stated minimum. It is possible some councils would decide to continue funding the full scheme and they might have to increase their income to do so, which could mean higher taxes. If councils are made to pay compensation to bus companies for travel already made, this will also have to come from their budgets or reserves.

Q. I live in Eastleigh and currently receive medical treatment that requires visits to hospital. When I was referred I got to choose which hospital I wanted to go to and decided on Winchester. Will I still be able to get there free?

A. Probably. Healthcare services are recognised as being vitally important, and may be exempted from any cuts in services. In Fareham, which does not currently offer free countywide travel, pensioners are able to get buses to hospitals outside of the district for free, and any council looking to reduce its scheme could adopt this policy.

Q. Gordon Brown has already promised we will get free nationwide travel in a couple of years - is this affected?

A. No. The Treasury announced in March it will provide an extra £250m to allow pensioners to travel anywhere in the country for free at off-peak times, from April 2008. This is a separate scheme which will replace the one currently being challenged, and will be set up under new government rules which have not been released yet.

Q. I live in Southampton. If the legal challenge fails does that mean the council will have to let me travel anywhere in Hampshire, like pensioners elsewhere in the county?

A. No. Southampton City Council opted not to join the countywide scheme and instead provides the minimum levels of service set out by the government. The council has said it cannot afford to extend its service, and the outcome of the legal challenge will not change anything for city residents.