Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce free bus passes for children aged 15 and under in England as part of a new Cost of Living package. The initiative, called the "Great British summer savings scheme," will provide free bus rides throughout August for children born after 2011. Currently, free bus travel is largely limited to state pensioners aged 60 and over, depending on the local council area.
Details of the announcement
Ms Reeves will deliver a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, outlining the scheme alongside other measures such as cutting tariffs on certain food imports. The free bus rides aim to ease financial pressures on families during the summer holidays.
Before the speech, Reeves stated: "My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs. This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves, that’s why we’re launching the Great British summer savings scheme, and why we’re helping kids with free bus travel throughout August."
Additional measures for drivers
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also announced a 12-month vehicle tax holiday for hauliers and an extension of the fuel duty freeze for the rest of the year. Starmer said: "We are giving our hauliers a 12-month vehicle tax holiday, helping to keep prices down, and we are backing drivers by extending the freeze in fuel duty for the rest of the year."
Criticism from experts
However, the support has faced criticism. Jonathan Marshall, principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, noted: "Come the autumn, low-income families – who are still £1,800 poorer than they were before the last energy price shock – will be worst affected by another round of rising food prices and energy bills. And yet the support announced today will primarily benefit those who are better off, with the richest fifth of households gaining more than twice as much as the poorest fifth."
The free bus pass rule change applies to children aged 15 and under in England, with the scheme running for the month of August. Further details on eligibility and implementation are expected to be released soon.
