Free Travel for Under-18s: London

Opened the debate

Ruth Cadbury raised concerns about the Government’s decision to require Transport for London (TfL) to suspend free travel for under-18s on buses and trams, arguing that this measure disproportionately impacts disadvantaged young people. She noted that the condition was imposed at the last minute without proper assessment of its impact or cost and complexity of implementation. Cadbury highlighted that 60% of children in London schools are from BAME backgrounds who benefit from the scheme. The decision is also technically complex, costly to administer, and might only reduce demand during peak hours by 1-2%. She questioned the feasibility of encouraging active travel as an alternative, given safety concerns for long-distance journeys.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the £1.6 billion extraordinary funding and financing agreement agreed to enable TfL to continue operating services during the pandemic. The agreement includes measures to manage demand, including temporarily suspending free travel for under-18s on buses. She noted that this was agreed by the Mayor of London as well and highlighted that demand reduction measures were necessary to ensure capacity for key workers and those who need public transport. Maclean emphasised that children eligible for free home-to-school travel will still receive it, and TfL is working on operationalising the temporary suspension while conducting an equality impact assessment. The cost of this temporary suspension will not fall on London boroughs. She also highlighted plans to encourage active travel modes like walking and cycling as part of a wider strategy to manage demand for bus travel. Maclean stated that walking and cycling will play a vital role in ensuring pupils attend classes safely and on time, despite acknowledging some challenges.