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Children thrown off buses
TEENAGERS are being fined and thrown off buses because of a breakdown in supply of free identity cards.
Special identity cards were introduced earlier this month so that young Londoners travelling on the buses for free could be identified.
Teenagers causing trouble on buses could have their free passes taken away under the scheme.
Karen Buck, Labour MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, raised the matter at Prime Minister’s Question Time on Wednesday. She told Gordon Brown: “When the Labour mayor introduced free bus travel for children and young Londoners it was warmly welcomed by low-income families. It makes sense to require identification to tackle bad behaviour. But does the Prime Minister know that delays in the process of the identity card system has seen many young Londoners being turned away from buses? Low income families being fined for being on buses without ID.”
She called for swift action before a “good policy turned sour because bad administration.”
Mr Brown replied: “I want every child to benefit from a free bus pass but I’m denied the chance to raise with mayor since he vacated the seat in the house. I can assure you the Transport secretary will be in touch very soon.”
After the exchange Ms Buck said: “Whether or not we need these cards is besides the point because we have a situation where 11 and 12 year olds are being turfed off buses in places they don’t know and being made to walk home because their cards are held up in the post.
“Plus a lot of parents and children don’t even know they need these cards. The only reason my son has one is because I’m a politician and it’s my job to know.” |
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