WQ82267 (e) Tabled on 16/03/2021

What steps has the Minister taken to consider introducing a concessionary fares scheme for young carers?

Answered by Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales | Answered on 24/03/2021

All 16 to 21-year olds in Wales are able to access discounted bus travel through our young persons’ bus fares initiative, MyTravelPass. 

Any young carer (of any age) meeting the disabled criteria under our existing Mandatory Concessionary Bus Fare initiative will qualify for free bus travel. For rail travel, children under 11 travel free of charge with a fare paying adult and Transport for Wales offers free off-peak travel for those under 16. In addition to the national 16 to 17 saver rail card, Transport for Wales offers a number of discounted fare schemes for young persons including the 18 Saver railcard, offering a 50% discount on standard fares up to the day before a person’s 19th birthday.  There are no specific plans to introduce any new concessionary fares schemes in Wales at this time. 

However, our new transport strategy, Llwybr Newydd, commits to making public transport accessible for all in Wales and recognises the needs of those who share protected characteristics.  Work is already underway through the bus reform programme to review how bus services in Wales are planned, funded and delivered. This will include looking at fares and ticketing and our existing concessionary travel schemes.

We are committed to supporting young and young adult carers as highlighted in the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services’ written statement published on Young Carers’ Action Day on 16 March https://gov.wales/written-statement-young-carers-action-day. Our new Strategy for Unpaid Carers has been published, and we will work with a range of stakeholders, including unpaid carers of all ages, to develop a delivery plan in the coming months.