Transport Costs: Disabled People
Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Contributions
Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)Labour
5. What steps she is taking to help disabled people with the cost of transport.
The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)Labour
The Government are committed to travel being accessible to all. The English national concessionary travel scheme, for example, provides free off-peak bus travel throughout England for eligible older and disabled people. From 1 April, disabled passholders will be able to travel free of charge, at any time of day, across England.
I welcome the recent revision to the way the Motability changes are set to be delivered, which will ensure that people can apply for a mileage allowance if they are making journeys for healthcare, education, employment or other essential needs. There is also an automatic increase of up to 3,000 miles for rural users, which will go some way towards reducing the otherwise unfair impact of the changes on those living in rural areas. I am grateful for the representations of Labour Rural Research Group colleagues on this issue, and I am grateful to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for his nuanced approach, but what further steps are Ministers taking to support disabled travellers in rural areas?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point, and I join him in welcoming the announcement by Motability, particularly to help drivers in rural areas. He will have heard what I said about the extension of the time at which the free bus pass can be used, starting from 1 April. Let me also point him to the fact that the Department for Transport is providing £10.5 million in 2026-27, including an additional £1.9 million this year, to support mobility centres around the country, which help disabled drivers, including those in rural areas, to stay mobile.
Sir Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)Conservative
I warmly welcome the extension of the travel hours for those with disabled bus passes, but there is one further step that is still necessary for disabled people who cannot travel on a bus without a companion. At the moment, whether a council allows the disabled bus pass to cover a companion is still discretionary. That needs to be made mandatory, because there is not much point in a disabled person having a free bus pass if the person who has to be with them has to pay the full fare.
The right hon. Gentleman raises an interesting point, which I know my hon. Friends will be aware of. The Bus Services Act 2025 includes strengthened requirements for disability training for drivers and for customer-facing staff working for bus companies, but I will certainly reflect on his point.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5435646.