BUS TRAVEL IN LONDON

That this House supports the provision in London of free bus and tram travel in the capital for all under-18s in full-time education; notes that across London the scheme benefits 385,000 young people; welcomes the fact that the concession is of particular benefit to low-income families and greatly helps young people who might be at risk of having to drop out of education through lack of money; further notes that polling has shown that eight out of 10 Londoners support this concession; deplores the decision by Conservative members of the London Assembly to propose an alternative Greater London Authority budget that would abolish this scheme and replace it with a pilot school bus scheme operating in just six boroughs and not operating during half term, Christmas, summer holidays and other times when families would benefit from cut price travel; and supports the lobby of the London Assembly being organised by unions, parents' groups, children's charities and anti-poverty groups on 14th February to oppose this cut.