Having secured £500,000 so 16-18-year-old local rural youngsters can benefit from affordable transport for education and training; Dr Hudson took his campaign to the Commons chamber so rural youngsters are not penalised for a lack of buses and trains.
He called for a national policy to mandate local authorities to provide transport for all young people attending education or training until 18 – working with local Government to properly utilise public funds.
From increasing rural skills, boosting the economy and allowing everyone to achieve their full potential, the potential benefits of such a policy are profound.
The longstanding issues has been well documented. To read more about Dr Hudson’s campaign, visit: www.neilhudson.org.uk/campaigns/neil-hudsons-petition-fair-post-16-transport-all
Dr Hudson’s comments came during a debate on Adult and Further Education brought forward by Robin Walker (Worcester, Conservative) and Margaret Greenwood (Wirral West, Labour)
Speaking afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“Affecting real change in politics can sometimes feel like trying to turn a supertanker around. Although the speed of progress can sometimes be frustrating, I make sure to remember why I got into politics in the first place – to make people’s lives better – and keep the determination going.
“And that’s exactly what I did when I stood up in Parliament to pursue my ongoing campaign for fair, sustainable and affordable post-16 transport. Although I secured £500,000 to get local youngsters in our county to college, sixth form and apprenticeships; we need a cohesive national policy so rural youngsters are not unfairly penalised.”
The full exchange in the House of Commons, as reported by Hansard:
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“My right hon. Friend is making a passionate speech from his personal and professional perspective, having worked in the FE sector. On the equality of opportunity for our young people that FE colleges provide, we ask our young people to be in training or education until they are 18, but local authorities are not mandated to provide transport.
“In my constituency, I have had to campaign and put pressure on the local council to free up half a million pounds to provide bursaries for young people to get to their next stage of training. Does he agree that we should mandate local authorities to use central Government moneys to allow our young people to take their life decisions and go on to their next stage of training, as we are asking them to do?”
Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, replied:
“My hon. Friend makes a good point. That is something that colleges and local authorities should look at, because it is important that we should not restrict choice, but increase opportunity. The way to do that is to ensure that people can get to the college, that they can take the courses and that there are the staff there to teach them. It is a joint effort.”
