← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Free Bus Travel: Care Leavers
07 December 2022
Lead MP
Steve McCabe
Birmingham, Selly Oak
Lab
Responding Minister
Not recorded
Tags
NHSEconomyMental HealthChildren & Families
Word Count: 3372
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Steve McCabe raised concerns about free bus travel: care leavers in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Minister to consider extending free bus travel to care leavers aged 18 to 25 in England, inspired by the Barnardo's report 'Transport for Freedom'. I would like him to agree to meet me and representatives of Barnardo's to discuss potential schemes.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
There are about 80,000 children in the care system across England and Wales, with approximately 10,000 attempting to exit the system each year. Care leavers face numerous challenges including lower educational qualifications, mental health difficulties, and financial vulnerability. The cost of living crisis exacerbates these issues, making travel a necessity rather than a luxury for care-experienced young people who are dependent on buses for essential activities such as attending work interviews and staying connected with family.
Daniel Poulter
Con
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
The Minister is right to point out the challenges of running a bus service when there are not enough customers to fund it. There are concessions for many groups in society, so might he at least take away from this debate the potential to look at this proposal, given the vulnerabilities of care leavers? We are dealing with a vulnerable group that is disadvantaged in many ways, for whom this could be a great benefit.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon thanked the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward the debate and highlighted that care leavers under 25 on universal credit need to afford buses to get to appointments and seek employment opportunities, questioning if free bus travel would enable them to do so.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.