Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to introduce discounted bus and train travel for apprentices since June 2017.

In January 2019, the government announced the 16-17 Railcard, which will offer half price rail fares to 16 and 17 year-olds from September 2019. This will benefit apprentices and those in further education. Further details about the 16-17 Railcard will be announced later this year.

The Department for Education and the Department for Transport are currently preparing a joint proposal for discounted public transport, including bus and train travel, for apprentices. They are keen to work with stakeholders to address how we can best ensure that young people are not deterred from taking up apprenticeship opportunities due to travel costs and will continue to work together to support other forms of discounted travel for apprentices.