Hansard

Bus Travel Affordability: Children and Young People

15 Jul 2026 · Commons Chamber · 7 speeches · Official record

Commons debate API. Not a paper. A named member links to their Institrace record when we hold that seat.

  1. Amanda Martin

    10. What steps she has taken to help increase the affordability of bus travel for children and young people. Full speech

  2. Clive Jones

    If this summer’s free bus travel scheme for under-15s proves successful, will the Minister look to extend it for the future? It would help hard-working families in Wokingham make the most of their holiday period. Full speech

  3. Simon Lightwood

    My hon. Friend is right that transport has a vital role to play in unlocking opportunities for young people, as I know from growing up in a coastal community. Through the Bus Services Act 2025, we are giving local leaders greater power to shape bus services around their local needs, including in coastal and rural communities. We have confirmed over £3 billion for buses from 2026-27, which will help to improve connections to education, training and employment. I am sure that my colleagues in the ... Full speech

  4. Sir Lindsay Hoyle

    I am not sure that fits in with buses, but not to worry. I call Clive Jones. Full speech

  5. Simon Lightwood

    The Labour party is keeping bus fares low. We introduced the £3 bus fare cap, after the previous Government failed to fund any support when the previous cap expired. Beyond March next year, we will continue to keep our options open, in order to make sure that bus travel is safe, accessible and affordable for everyone. Full speech

  6. Amanda Martin

    Last week, the all-party parliamentary group for tradespeople hosted a roundtable to discuss the barriers to young people taking up a career in the trades. Travel was raised as a particular issue. While I welcome the Government’s roll-out of new technical colleges, they are simply inaccessible to many young people, especially those in coastal communities, where transport links are poor. Once they qualify, tradespeople rely on their cars and vans to build their businesses and get to their place o... Full speech

  7. Simon Lightwood

    The Government know how important affordable bus travel is for helping children and young people to access opportunities. That is why we are funding free bus travel for kids across England this August; it will help families to get out and about for less during the summer holidays. That builds on local initiatives from Labour Mayors in the west and north-east of England that allow children to travel by bus for free. Full speech