Mayor's call over child benefit cap and bus fares cost

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has issued a pre-Budget call the Government to lift the two-child benefit cap and give long term support for cheaper bus fares.

- by Tom Patterson

In the run-up to next week's Budget, the Mayor has also called for fresh investment in critical upgrades to transport infrastructure.

During meetings in London last week with senior officials at the Cabinet Office and the Treasury, the Mayor pressed for continued funding to underpin the region's £2.50 local bus fare cap and £1 fare for young people, which have already delivered over 70 million journeys and have driven a 20% growth in young passengers travelling by bus in the region.