Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of fare charging arrangements on morning peak rail tickets for (a) 16-25 and (b) 26-30 Railcards.

Both the 16-25 and 26-30 Railcards are subject to a £12 minimum fare during the morning peak. Changes to the terms and conditions of Railcards are for industry to propose and would need to balance the benefits to certain groups against the impacts on taxpayers.

I am aware of the recent coverage of a number of prosecutions undertaken by one rail operator.

We expect operators to ensure their policy on ticketing is clear and fair for passengers at all times and have instructed an urgent review of the cases in question, with a view to resolving them.

Ticketing has become far too complicated, which is why we plan to simplify it as part of the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation.