Young people and transport

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to include in their party manifesto for all 16 – 21 year olds in England to receive a 66 percent discount on bus travel with a Young Person’s Bus Pass. The policy would be paid for by abolishing TV licences and Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners who qualify as higher rate taxpayers. For further information visit www.libdems.org.uk/under_21s_to_get_bus_pass_discount.

Transport issues topped the poll of young people’s priorities in the UK Youth Parliament’s Mark Your Mark referendums of a quarter of a million young people in 2011 and 2012. It has remained high on the agenda for young people since then and the British Youth Council has been campaigning on youth travel. For further information visit www.byc.org.uk/news/british-youth-council-transport-campaign-success-lib-dems-to-include-youth-discount-card-pledge-in-their-manifesto.aspx.

A report by the Commons Transport Committee has warned that over 700 vulnerable children and young people who had run away from home or care were found at London stations between April 2012 and August 2013. This puts them at increased risk of sexual exploitation. MPs have called on the British Transport Police to establish the extent of the problem and develop new practices to safeguard at-risk children who end up in railway stations. For further information visit www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/transport-committee/news/report-security-on-the-railway/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed. To download the report visit www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmtran/428/428.pdf.