Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the new cap on bus fares will include services that are solely for the transport of pupils to and from their place of education.

The new fare cap will be designed to be as equitable as possible in terms of its support for passengers across England. One of the key principles of the scheme will be to include ‘open’ services which allow any member of public to board. ‘Closed’ school services, defined as a service which would not allow a member of the general public to board, and school services which operate in term-time only will not be eligible for inclusion. This is in keeping with the approach of the previous fare cap scheme, which did not allow for the inclusion of closed school services.

Services from participating operators that serve schools, are open to members of the public and run all year round will be eligible for inclusion in the scheme.