Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to implement free nationwide bus travel for people aged under 22 in the context of the introduction of free bus travel for people of that age by the devolved Administration in Scotland from the start of 2022.

Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), the Government supports council spending of around £1 billion a year to offer free bus travel to those who have reached State Pension Age and those with eligible disabilities.

Concessionary travel legislation gives local authorities the flexibility to offer further local travel concessions such as free or discounted travel to young people. Bus operators can also offer discounted travel for young people. In 2020/21 operators in 80% of the travel concession authority areas in England, outside London, offered some form of discounted travel for young people.