MPs Kerry McCarthy and Clive Betts support UK Youth Parliaments Fares Fair campaign in a Commons debate addressing the Local Transport Bill to Minister for Transport, Rosie Winterton.

In arguing for better, standardised transport in the country, Betts said “The Youth Parliament did an excellent survey in Sheffield which assessed young people's attitude towards public transport. It was generally positive, but most positive about the tram, which it saw as a quality service because it was safe and reliable. It should run to Rotherham “

David Chaytor added to the debate, directly supporting national concession travel cards for young people “The concessionary fares scheme for elderly people has been enormously successful and popular. Does the Minister agree that exactly the same arguments that supported the case for a national concessionary fares scheme for the over-60s also support the case for such a scheme for the under-18s? Will she keep her mind, and the collective mind of her officials, open to the possibility that when considering the next transport Act we should look seriously at introducing a national, standardised, basic minimum concessionary fares scheme for under-18s?”

Minister Winterton responded stating “We are doing lots of things to encourage younger people to use public transport—and we also encourage other initiatives, such as cycling schemes to make sure that they get the benefits of exercise…. over the (past) 10-year period we have spent about £450 million a year subsidising rural bus services”

Read the full debate here