In response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Adrian Sanders MP, the Labour Government has again refused to acknowledge the high cost of public transport for the under 18s.
16 to 18 year olds in Torbay are charged full adult fare on local bus networks and while help can be available for some school journeys, no concession is available for any other journeys. The vast majority of bus companies provide child rates for under 16s but are not obliged to do so. Other areas are able to offer discounts for young people or wholly free travel as in London.
Schools and Learners Minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry stated that unlike disabled people and the over-60s, young people cannot automatically benefit from cheaper or free public transport. Funding for the concessionary pass has topped £1billion a year despite calls from councils for more cash, however totally free travel for 16-19 year olds would only cost around £245million a year.
Adrian commented: “The cost of public transport is one of the issues raised most by young people when they contact me. Being able to get around substantially improves people’s quality of life and while the Government has recognised this for the over 60s, it refuses to acknowledge the benefits for young people.”
“Improving young people’s mobility can have a positive impact in so many areas, improving their access to facilities and activities and reducing anti-social behaviour. Young people mostly want a reduction in travel costs, not for travel to be totally free. It would be far better for the Government to enforce considerably reduced but not free bus fares for young people and pensioners.”
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