Minister rules out cheap fares for young

Even though the leading Lib Dem admits “cheaper fares could make buses the mode of choice at an early age and lock in patronage for the future”, he says the plan is unaffordable.

His comments are a blow to Labour MPs from Yorkshire who used a Parliamentary debate on the future of bus services in this region to highlight the plight of young people who are being priced off buses in the pursuit of work – or further education.

While Mr Baker accepts that this could be “a barrier” in the pursuit of aspiration, he says the onus should be on privatised bus operators to take a moral lead.

He also says Labour should have legislated on the issue prior to the 2010 election if the party was so concerned about the rising cost of travel and its impact on passengers.

“We have no immediate plans to legislate to set fares for young people or to introduce a statutory young person’s travel concession, but I think that a simpler fare structure would help, and in some areas bus operators could do more to offer discounted fares to young people,” said Mr Baker.

“Interestingly enough, the legislation that regulates the bus industry, which we inherited in 2010, does not require bus operators to offer any reduced fares to young people.

“If the Government intervened to enforce an age limit for charging an adult fare or legislated to create a national concessionary travel scheme for young people, local authorities would be obliged to reimburse bus operators for any revenue forgone; thus a financial burden would be imposed on local authorities.”

The great bus fares debate: Page 11.