Lilly MahoneyLondon, Reino Unido
18 nov 2020
Dear Petitioner,
I write to let you know the good news that Government plans to scrap free travel for under 18s in London have been defeated, and our children will continue to benefit from free travel.
In the latest round of funding discussions, I made clear to the Government that I would not accept their request to scrap free travel for under 18s in return for financial support for Transport for London (TfL).
In mid-May, the Government announced a £1.6 billion emergency funding package for TfL. This was necessary because COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on TfL’s finances, as fares income fell by 90 per cent during the first wave of the pandemic. Ridership is still much lower than usual so there simply has not been enough money coming in to pay for transport services.
As part of this package, the Government insisted that free travel should be suspended for under 18s. TfL did further investigatory work with Government into how their proposal would be implemented. It quickly became clear – as City Hall had feared and stated in negotiations – that this change to concessions would be exceedingly complex to introduce and would have a damaging impact on many families and young people across London.
I have continually voiced strong opposition to the plans and refused to make this change that would have seen London’s children lose their free travel. On 31 October 2020, Government agreed a second emergency funding package for TfL to 31 March 2021. It replaces the agreement signed in May, and it no longer requires TfL to suspend free travel for under 18s. This is a welcome victory; my objections to these changes – and your campaigning support – has paid off.
Free bus travel to school is equivalent to £30 a week for a family with two children. For many families free travel is a lifeline, especially at the moment when finances are stretched more than ever.
Scrapping free travel for under 18s would also have had a disproportionate effect on young people from more deprived areas, minority ethnic groups and those with disabilities, as they experience the worst effects of road danger and air pollution.
Ministers have made clear that in return for dropping the requirement to cut this concession, they expect London to raise additional income to cover the cost of these concessions. I have reluctantly accepted that I may need to ask all Londoners to pay a bit more to help some of the poorest families. We are now exploring ways to raise the additional income for TfL that is needed, so we can protect these vital concessions. This may include a modest increase in council tax next year, but I know that in many households’ finances are more stretched than ever, so any increase will be as modest as possible.
Thank you for making our voice heard on this issue – our campaigning has paid off and free travel for under 18s in London has been saved.
Yours sincerely,
Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
I write to let you know the good news that Government plans to scrap free travel for under 18s in London have been defeated, and our children will continue to benefit from free travel.
In the latest round of funding discussions, I made clear to the Government that I would not accept their request to scrap free travel for under 18s in return for financial support for Transport for London (TfL).
In mid-May, the Government announced a £1.6 billion emergency funding package for TfL. This was necessary because COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on TfL’s finances, as fares income fell by 90 per cent during the first wave of the pandemic. Ridership is still much lower than usual so there simply has not been enough money coming in to pay for transport services.
As part of this package, the Government insisted that free travel should be suspended for under 18s. TfL did further investigatory work with Government into how their proposal would be implemented. It quickly became clear – as City Hall had feared and stated in negotiations – that this change to concessions would be exceedingly complex to introduce and would have a damaging impact on many families and young people across London.
I have continually voiced strong opposition to the plans and refused to make this change that would have seen London’s children lose their free travel. On 31 October 2020, Government agreed a second emergency funding package for TfL to 31 March 2021. It replaces the agreement signed in May, and it no longer requires TfL to suspend free travel for under 18s. This is a welcome victory; my objections to these changes – and your campaigning support – has paid off.
Free bus travel to school is equivalent to £30 a week for a family with two children. For many families free travel is a lifeline, especially at the moment when finances are stretched more than ever.
Scrapping free travel for under 18s would also have had a disproportionate effect on young people from more deprived areas, minority ethnic groups and those with disabilities, as they experience the worst effects of road danger and air pollution.
Ministers have made clear that in return for dropping the requirement to cut this concession, they expect London to raise additional income to cover the cost of these concessions. I have reluctantly accepted that I may need to ask all Londoners to pay a bit more to help some of the poorest families. We are now exploring ways to raise the additional income for TfL that is needed, so we can protect these vital concessions. This may include a modest increase in council tax next year, but I know that in many households’ finances are more stretched than ever, so any increase will be as modest as possible.
Thank you for making our voice heard on this issue – our campaigning has paid off and free travel for under 18s in London has been saved.
Yours sincerely,
Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London
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