§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce regulations to entitle all children between the ages of five and 16 years to half price bus fares.
§ Mr. FreemanLocal authorities already have powers to include children under 16 years in a concessionary fares scheme, and decisions on whether to do so are for them. In addition, bus companies are free to offer cheap fares on a commercial basis to children of any age.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of bus deregulation on the price of children's bus fares.
§ Mr. FreemanNo separate assessment has been made of the effects of deregulation on children's bus fares. But a recent survey by my Department showed that the proportion of districts in England and Wales in which local authorities operate concessionary fares schemes for children is broadly unchanged since deregulation.