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Free Travel for Under-18s: London
08 July 2020
Lead MP
Ruth Cadbury
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Transport
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Ruth Cadbury raised concerns about free travel for under-18s: london in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
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.
Karen Buck
Lab
Westminster
Local authorities estimate that between 5,000 and 9,000 children in Westminster alone are affected. All children who currently use public transport to get to school could be eligible.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Richmond Park
Concerned about the impact on students at further education colleges, where a quarter of college students are on free school meals.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith
Black, Asian and minority ethnic children are particularly affected by the scheme, as almost 60% benefit from it.
Meg Hillier
Lab
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Described the policy as a tax on education, impacting families who have chosen schools based on free travel. Also questioned whether an impact assessment has been done.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Concerned about how families with three children in secondary school might be expected to meet the additional weekly cost of £45.
Sarah Olney
Lib Dem
Barnet and Camden
Worried that distances will now be completed by car journeys, particularly in outer boroughs, instead of bus 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.
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Assessment & feedback
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.