Further Education Public Transport and Covid-19 2020-10-12
2020-10-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
During the COVID-19 outbreak, there are concerns about young people's access to public transport for further education.
What discussions have you had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring young people can travel and continue their education during the coronavirus pandemic?
We have been working closely with the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that young people can travel and continue to travel to their place of education during the coronavirus pandemic. We have made £44 million available to fund additional dedicated transport to schools and colleges, and we will announce additional funding shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns that local authorities lack funds to operate low-cost travel schemes such as the System One scheme in Greater Manchester, impacting young people's access.
Does the Minister accept that the Government have a responsibility to ensure that local authorities have the funds available to operate low-cost travel schemes like the System One scheme? Is it unacceptable for the Treasury to devolve cuts affecting young people?
Of course we have taken very seriously the issue of ensuring that children can get to school and colleges; there has been not only an extra £2 billion in funding to help people to walk to school and to make it safe for them to get to school, but £44 million for dedicated transport. So the Treasury is putting a lot of investment into this area.
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Assessment & feedback
Whether local authorities have sufficient funds to operate low-cost travel schemes like System One in Greater Manchester.
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