Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review the statutory guidance for local authorities on post-16 transport to education and training in order to take account of the increase in the education participation age to 18.

The post-16 transport guidance for local authorities was reviewed following the introduction of legislation to raise the participation age in 2013 and an updated version was published in February this year.

The statutory responsibility for transport to education and training for 16- to 19-year-olds continues to rest with local authorities, enabling them to make decisions which best match 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 they have available. The Government has no plans at present to extend the statutory requirement beyond this.

Most 16- to 19-year-olds have access to a discount or concession on local travel, from their local transport provider, their local authority, or from their education or training provider. The £180 million Bursary Fund is also available to support young people with the costs associated with attending education or training, and transport is the biggest single area of expenditure for which this fund is used.