Asked by: Lord Bishop of Lincoln (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the recommendation from the Children’s Commissioner in the report Growing up in a low-income family: Children’s experiences, published in July, that all school-age children in England and care leavers up to the age of 25 should have access to free bus travel.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government knows how important affordable bus services are in enabling young people to get to education, work and access vital services.
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include school students and care leavers up to age 25, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, including to those aged 16 and under, and 17–18-year-olds in full-time education, as discretionary enhancements to the ENCTS. Additional local concessions are provided and funded by local authorities from local resources.
At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the Government’s £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.
As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for school-age children and care leavers.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Lincoln (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the recommendation made in the report by the Select Committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns and Communities (Session 2017–19, HL Paper 320), published in April 2019, and in the follow-up letter to that report from the Chair of the Liaison Committee, published in March 2021, that they conduct a detailed review of the coastal transport network.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the importance of reliable public transport services in keeping communities connected, including in coastal areas.
The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in our coastal communities. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.
In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.
Rail also has an important role in connecting coastal communities as part of the wider transport system. The Department requires its train operators to plan services and rail timetables that are designed to meet expected passenger demand. These should be resilient and provide value for money for the taxpayer. These timetables are kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.