Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Ministerial colleagues to address inequalities in access to public transport that limit young people from accessing employment, education or training opportunities in rural areas.

The Government recognises that young people in rural areas face particular challenges in reaching employment, education and training, including limited public transport, long and costly journeys, and services that do not operate at the times or to the places they need.

We are working across local government and with local leaders to improve young people’s access to opportunity. The Government is providing over £3 billion between 2026/27 and 2028/29 to support local bus services and keep fares low, including around £700 million per year through the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG). Local Transport Authorities can use this funding to support rural bus services and targeted fare initiatives for younger passengers. In December 2025, the Government published multi-year LABG allocations using a fair and transparent formula that, for the first time, includes a rurality factor alongside population, deprivation and existing bus service provision.

The Government announced in July 2026 that the current £3 National Bus Fare Cap will be replaced by a £2 cap, on eligible single fares on participating bus services in England outside London, from 1 January 2027. This will help millions of people access affordable bus travel, supporting access to employment, education or training opportunities. The cap can make a particular difference on some longer-distance and rural routes, where uncapped single fares can be significantly higher.

Alongside this, the Government is improving the evidence available to national and local decision-makers, including through the Transport Poverty Tool, to identify where poor connectivity and deprivation are restricting young people’s access to jobs, education and training.