Free bus passes 'should be cut back to help young'

Image caption, Students across the country have protested against the scrapping of EMAs

People aged over 65 should have their free bus passes scaled back so that the funds saved could allow young people to get to college, a Somerset MP has said.

Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt said many young people and parents had contacted her about the lack of rural transport.

Fiona Kirton, from North Wootton, said the axing of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) meant she could not afford to send her twins to college.

The government said the scheme was "poorly targeted" and cost too much.

EMA is a means-tested benefit worth a maximum of 拢30 per week to help support 16 and 17-year-olds from poorer backgrounds to go to college.

'Absolutely furious'

Ms Kirton, who is recovering from breast cancer and is on benefits, said she needed to find 拢1,400 to be able to send her two daughters to Strode College, which is five miles away from their home.

"We live in a rural hamlet and there's no bus service. My children have been working really hard towards being a vet and a psychologist.

"There is no way I can afford the bus passes. There are no buses out the village - there is no other way of getting them there. I'm absolutely furious... I cannot see a way out of this."

Ms Munt said although the student welfare grant to colleges was set to triple (Strode College would receive 拢51,000 per year), this was nowhere near enough.

She said she was pushing for a scheme which would see free bus passes for the over 65s be trimmed down so that unlimited travel would only be allowed for a couple of weeks at Christmas and in the summer.

The pass would then be limited to a radius of 50 miles from home.

Ms Munt added the money saved could be used to help young people get to college.

Last week the coalition government won a House of Commons vote to scrap EMAs.