Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has commissioned research into the potential impact of transport poverty among 16 to 24 year olds on (a) unemployment and (b) productivity in Newcastle.

In England, the majority of bus services outside London operate on a commercial basis, and decisions about offering reduced or discounted fares for commercial bus services are predominantly for operators to take.

Many bus operators currently offer discounted fares for younger people.

The Government introduced a £2 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January 2023 until the end of 2024 to help passengers save on their regular travel costs. The Government has provided almost £600 million to support the scheme.