Children aged 5 to 16 are eligible for free travel if they attend their nearest suitable school and cannot walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or route safety. Statutory walking distances are set at 2 miles for children under 8 and 3 miles for those aged 8 and over.

There are extended rights to free travel for children currently eligible for free school meals, to support low-income families to exercise school choice. More detail can be found in the statutory guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a10649929bb11891b1cf096/Travel_to_school_for_children_of_compulsory_school_age.pdf.

For these pupils, 11 to 16 year-olds may receive free travel to one of their three nearest schools between 2 to 6 miles from home, or to a school 2 to 15 miles away chosen on grounds of religion or belief; and the statutory walking distance is set at 2 miles for those aged 8 and over but under 11.

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

In May, the Chancellor announced the Summer Bus Fare Offer, which will enable children aged five to 15 to travel for free on participating local buses in England throughout August to help ease cost-of-living pressures for families and to help them get out and about for less this summer.

In developing the scheme, the Department for Transport continually assesses its potential impacts. We have carefully considered operational and safety issues raised through extensive engagement with the bus sector, including bus operators, and have incorporated a number of measures to ensure the scheme is delivered in a way that is safe and operationally workable. This includes enabling operators to require that children under 11 are accompanied by a person aged 16 or over, and have discretion in applying this requirement where doing so could place a child at risk.

The Department has also been in correspondence with trade unions on the development of the Summer Bus Fare Offer and continues to engage with stakeholders, including bus operators and local authorities on its delivery.

There are no current plans to review the Network Railcard scheme. The Network Railcard was designed to stimulate leisure travel and is restricted to encourage travel outside of the busy morning peak. In future, Great British Railways(GBR) will have the flexibility to update and expand concessionary offers as passenger needs evolve.

The Government recognises the importance of women and girls being able to access the care they need for their reproductive health, including period products. That is why there are several Government schemes across England which ensure that those who are most vulnerable can access the products they need. The Department for Education’s period products scheme launched in 2020 and provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study so that nobody misses out on education because of their period. Similarly, all women and girls being cared for by the National Health Service are entitled to be given, upon request, appropriate period products free of charge. All women in prison have access to menstrual products, which are typically stored in locations that allow women to collect items themselves as needed.

We are also taking steps to ensure that products are as affordable as possible. The tax on period products has been zero-rated since 2021 and, in 2023, this was extended to include reusable period underwear.

The Department will be exploring the effectiveness of the legal duty to provide free period products under the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021.

I agree with my hon. Friend: Bev Craig will be a brilliant mayor for Greater Manchester. I am proud that Labour is putting power over bus services back in the hands of local leaders. This Government have extended franchising powers, capped fares and invested to deliver better services, and we are ensuring that children can enjoy free bus travel this summer. I am sure my hon. Friends will want to get behind Bev in Greater Manchester so that we can defeat Reform’s divisive candidate and drive forward the agenda under a new mayor.

Q2

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Jeff Smith (Manchester Withington) (Lab):

In three weeks’ time, Greater Manchester residents will have the chance to vote for Labour’s brilliant candidate, Bev Craig, to be their next mayor. I have worked with Bev for many years, so I know her strong record as a leader and what an outstanding mayor she will be. Will the Deputy Prime Minister join me in welcoming Bev’s pledge to extend free travel on public transport to all 11 to 18-year-olds, so all our young people in Greater Manchester can have the independence to travel to the work, education and leisure opportunities they deserve?

The Government recognises the importance of affordable bus travel in helping to reduce barriers to opportunity. We have introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London, which has been extended until March 2027, helping millions of passengers travel for less. We are also supporting families through targeted measures, including providing funding for free bus travel for children aged 5 to 15 on participating local buses in England in August.

Alongside this, the Government is investing over £3 billion from 2026/27 to improve and maintain bus services. This funding gives local transport authorities the flexibility to deliver services and fares that meet the needs of their communities, including introducing reduced or free bus travel for specific groups of people. We believe that local leaders are best placed to choose how to use this funding to deliver the best outcomes for passengers.

The Government recognises the important role that expanded access programmes can play in enabling patients, particularly those with serious or rare conditions, to access innovative medicines outside routine commissioning arrangements.

As with other goods, the VAT treatment of medicines in the United Kingdom is governed by long-standing principles. This means that even where medicines are supplied free of charge in certain circumstances, a taxable supply may arise. There is no specific VAT exemption for medicines provided through expanded access programmes.

The Government is committed to finding a solution to the issue of companies paying VAT on medicines donated free of charge. This will be delivered either through a VAT change, or through a reimbursement scheme. This decision is subject to further policy work, and officials are working with stakeholders to explore options.

Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), there is no legislative requirement to switch between a disabled pass and an older person's pass when a disabled passholder reaches the state pension age. Local authorities (or Travel Concessionary Authorities) are responsible for administering the ENCTS, and passholders should discuss any concerns regarding their ENCTS entitlement with the relevant local authority at the time of renewal.

Yes. The Department's guidance for Local Transport Authorities on assessing the eligibility of disabled people for concessionary bus travel is published on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-local-authorities-on-eligibility-for-disabled-people/assessing-eligibility-of-disabled-people-for-concessionary-bus-travel.

The information requested is not held centrally. Pharmaceutical companies can establish compassionate use or early access programmes through which medicines may be made available to National Health Service patients free of charge ahead of an NHS commissioning decision. Such schemes operate outside the established commissioning arrangements for medicines and neither the Department nor NHS England collects information on the number of patients receiving medicines through compassionate use schemes.

The BBC Charter Review Green Paper sought views on ways to make the BBC’s funding fairer, including possible new concessions. As set out in the Green Paper, we do not plan to remove any existing concessions.This includes the concession for over 75s on pension credit which targets those most in need of support. In 2024, the government also extended the Simple Payment Plan to support those facing financial hardship to spread the cost of their TV licence.

The Government is considering responses to the Charter Review public consultation, which closed on 10 March 2026. These will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter which will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The BBC Charter Review Green Paper sought views on ways to make the BBC’s funding fairer, including possible new concessions. As set out in the Green Paper, we do not plan to remove any existing concessions.This includes the concession for over 75s on pension credit which targets those most in need of support. In 2024, the government also extended the Simple Payment Plan to support those facing financial hardship to spread the cost of their TV licence.

The Government is considering responses to the Charter Review public consultation, which closed on 10 March 2026. These will inform policy decisions for the next BBC Royal Charter which will be set out in a White Paper, expected to be published later this year.

The Department has already shared initial details of the proposed reimbursement mechanism for the Summer Bus Fare Offer with operators and further detail will be shared ahead of implementation.

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. The Government has not specifically assessed the impact on patient health outcomes for people with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy who may struggle to afford their prescribed medication.

Patients with certain medical conditions may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges for another reason. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, and whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

Additionally, people on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, and people who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs are available to purchase online from the NHS Business Services Authority or in-person at some pharmacies. The prescription charge in England is £9.90. A PPC costs £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for 12 months.

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. The Government has not specifically assessed the impact on patient health outcomes for people with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy who may struggle to afford their prescribed medication.

Patients with certain medical conditions may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges for another reason. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, and whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

Additionally, people on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, and people who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs are available to purchase online from the NHS Business Services Authority or in-person at some pharmacies. The prescription charge in England is £9.90. A PPC costs £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for 12 months.

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. The Government has not specifically assessed the impact on patient health outcomes for people with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy who may struggle to afford their prescribed medication.

Patients with certain medical conditions may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges for another reason. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, and whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

Additionally, people on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme, and people who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs are available to purchase online from the NHS Business Services Authority or in-person at some pharmacies. The prescription charge in England is £9.90. A PPC costs £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for 12 months.