Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made on the effect of raising of the Participation Age to 18 on the ability of (a) families and (b) local authorities to afford post-16 school and college transport.

The statutory responsibility for transport to education and training for 16 to 19 year olds rests with local authorities, enabling them to make decisions based on local needs and circumstances. Local authorities are expected to make reasonable decisions based on the needs of their population, the local transport infrastructure and the resources that they have available.

Most young people have access to some kind of discount or concession on bus or train travel, either from their local authority, their local transport providers or from their school or college. The 16-19 Bursary Fund is also available to support young people who need additional support to help them with costs such as transport.

At the end of 2017, the proportion of 16 and 17 year olds in education or an apprenticeship was 90.5%. This is the highest level since consistent records began in 1994.