Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering half-price train and bus tickets to (a) apprentices and (b) those on a low income in the context of the rising cost of living.

We already have a number of measures in place which help passengers, including apprentices and those on a low income, save on rail fares. Many will be able to benefit from the railcards on offer which offer discounts against most rail fares.

Most recently, we launched a ticket sale, with over 1.3 million tickets being sold, offering around £7million worth of savings for passengers.

In considering any new rail fare discounts, the Government would need to carefully consider the potential benefits to passengers, costs to taxpayers and impact on the operation of the railway.