9. 7. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Concessionary Bus and Rail Travel for Young People

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:13 pm on 18 October 2017.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 5:13, 18 October 2017

Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank everybody who has taken part in what, for the best part, has been a very good and decent debate on all sides of the Chamber? We’re bringing these proposals forward today because we believe that they offer an exciting opportunity to do something different in Wales that’s not been done in any other part of the UK, and that is to offer our 16 to 24-year-olds the opportunity to travel on the public transport network free of charge, on our bus network. At the moment, of course, we extend those privileges to the over-60s and to other vulnerable and special groups like injured servicemen and women, and we know that that has been extremely successful. It has been something that has been supported by all political parties. I want to extend similar privileges to our young people, because I believe that they also deserve a fair deal. Our green card proposals are good for young people. As you’ve already heard from the speakers in this debate, they’re good for the environment, they’re good for public transport, particularly in rural areas, where we’ve seen bus routes scrapped because of a lack of commercial viability, they’re good for public health, and they’re good for people’s social well-being.