Extracts from Lords debate on Buses - Mar 8
Friday, 9 March 2018 08:33
Baroness Scott of Needham Market (LD):...We know that younger
people are taking fewer journeys. In an urban area, that is
probably quite a good thing, but in rural areas the only practical
way for younger people to look for work or attend higher
education—or even have some sort of social life—is running a car. I
was talking to providers running the Government’s
flagship National Citizen Service; they told me that rural
transport is a real barrier to participation for many
young...Request free trial
(LD):...We know that younger people are taking fewer
journeys. In an urban area, that is probably quite a good thing,
but in rural areas the only practical way for younger people to
look for work or attend higher education—or even have some sort of
social life—is running a car. I was talking to providers running
the Government’s flagship National Citizen Service; they told me that
rural transport is a real barrier to participation for many young
people and—because the NCS is provided on a county basis—there was
a ridiculous situation where students on the Cambridgeshire border
were expected to get to Ipswich, which was just impossible by
public transport, but could not go to Cambridge, where there is a
bus. The delivery of some of these other services really needs
looking at...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department for Transport (Baroness Sugg) (Con):...Noble
Lords mentioned the advantages of more young people using buses,
and I entirely agree. The level of fares is a complex area. There
is no statutory obligation to provide discounted travel to young
people, and I am afraid there are no plans to introduce it. Many
commercial and publicly funded reductions are available. We are
working to deliver significantly discounted bus travel for
apprentices to ensure that no young person is deterred from taking
up an apprenticeship by travel costs. I listened with interest to
the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, about
the National Citizen Service, which is an
excellent programme. I will take that away and have a look at
it...
(Lab
Co-op):...One thing introduced in the Act, of
course, was bus franchising, which was very welcome. But one thing
that I was unhappy about was the obsession of the Government with
metro mayors. You got these powers by default rather than having to
apply to the Secretary of State only if you had a metro mayor. That
is a regrettable decision and not very localist. I am aware that
in Greater Manchester, in Liverpool and in the West of England have
all pledged to use the powers. I am not sure how far they have got
yet in establishing a scheme, but I was surprised that , the Conservative metro mayor
for the West Midlands, had not made any pledges at all. I actually
know the West Midlands really well. I lived there for many years,
and that certainly is one area that could do with a system where a
bus franchise could have its timetable, fares and routes regulated
much more by the metro mayor. I hope that he changes his mind. If
the Minister has any more information, I would be pleased to hear
it....
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