asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the school-leaving age having been raised during recent years to 14, he is prepared to make representations to the railway companies with a view to all children of school age being allowed to travel at half fare?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for the Houghton-le-Spring Division yesterday, the Railway Rates Tribunal have recently approved the railway companies' proposal that half fares should be restricted to children under 12 years of age. In these circumstances, I am not in a position to make representations to the companies in the matter, but I am sending to them a copy of my hon. Friend's question and this answer.