Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the financial viability of introducing age-targeted concessionary discounts within national bus fare cap schemes.

This Government recognises the importance of affordable and reliable bus travel and is committed to working with local authorities and bus operators to improve bus services for passengers. In many areas, discounted tickets and concessionary schemes are provided through arrangements between local authorities, colleges and transport operators. Where transport services operate on a commercial basis, decisions regarding fares and ticket products are generally matters for operators. Many operators offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2026 youth concessions were available from at least one commercial operator in 76 of the 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

On 22 July, the Government announced that single bus tickets will be capped at £2 from 1 January 2027, replacing the current £3 National Bus Fare Cap. Under the scheme, no single eligible bus ticket on participating bus routes will be higher than £2, helping millions of people access affordable bus travel, supporting access to work, education, healthcare and leisure. The substantial funding provided to local authorities to improve bus services can be used to introduce local fares initiatives if they wish, including discounted bus travel for young people.