House of Commons · Adjournment Debate
10 July 2025 · 7 other contributors
Opened by Tom Gordon LD Harrogate and Knaresborough
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Tom Gordon raised concerns about disabled bus passes 2025-07-10 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
It is a pleasure to stand here today and raise, once again, the issue of restrictions on the use of disabled bus passes. The Minister will be well aware of this matter, which I have raised with him on a number of occasions... The solution here is not just achievable; it is affordable. Research by Whizz Kidz suggests that removing time restrictions would cost £8.8 million, reflecting only 1% of the annual spend on concessionary travel across England.
Young people in post-16 education or apprenticeships are unable to learn to drive as easily because of their complex needs, yet while their parents currently have to pay to get them to college in the morning, they can use their free bus passes to get home. That is completely counterintuitive and is restricting the choices of young people at a time when they should be expanding their independence.
This is of particular importance in rural areas because bus services are sparse and travel distances are long. The postcode lottery between different authorities means that there is a great unfairness for disabled people.
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate, which is a real opportunity to discuss BSIPs. One problem with BSIPs is that they run for a short period.
The Minister, I think, has conceded a key point: he has admitted that some duties are discretionary to councils, and some are statutory.
The hon. Member raises the issue of consistency in bus pass usage, pointing out an unfairness in the system that restricts non-drivers to use their passes only after 9:30 am.
The hon. Member enquires about Wivelsfield railway station’s step-free platform plans, which have not been implemented despite allocated funding.
The hon. Member seeks clarification on the Minister's ability to provide additional information beyond statutory obligations.
Government Response
The Minister's response was not included in this part of the debate as it appears to be cut off and no minister has responded yet according to the given text. The debate topic and lead MP's speech along with interventions have been extracted fully. I congratulate the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough on securing the debate and providing the opportunity to discuss disabled bus passes, and I thank other Members for their contributions... Local authorities can also offer companion passes to disabled passengers as a discretionary enhancement—a power we have seen taken up by two thirds, or 66%, of authorities, from Durham to Devon. Indeed, York and North Yorkshire combined authority goes above and beyond the ENCTS on times and companion passes... The Department conducted a review of the ENCTS, in which many of the important issues discussed today concerning scheme eligibility and travel times were considered. I will not prejudge the outcome of the review, but I want to reassure Members that accessibility and affordability remain central in our commitment to improve bus services for those who rely on them most... The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, which we introduced in December, puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them. I did not hear who called out first, but I will give way to the hon. Member for Mid Sussex. The Minister reiterates that every single local transport authority in the country has the ability to go above and beyond ENCTS statutory obligations. He mentions that funding allocated to local authorities can be used to fund discretionary enhancements to the ENCTS. He also highlights that a review of ENCTS is underway, addressing many issues raised today without prejudging its outcome. Under the bus services Bill, local authorities will produce a bus network accessibility plan assessing existing accessibility issues and identifying actions needed for improvement. Through the bus grant, local transport authorities can improve accessibility, frequency, and reliability of buses in their area. The Minister assures hon. Members that the Government is committed to working with local leaders and bus operators to deliver better, more reliable, and affordable bus services.