The Labour group on North Lincolnshire Council has today defended plans to reduce the subsidy on post 16 travel. Under plans revealed at last night's budget meeting, young people attending post 16 education will have to pay as much as £180 to receive a pass entitling them to free travel to and from college.

The Labour group has moved to make the scheme fairer by offering all students, no matter where they live, the same rate. Although the cost of a card for free travel has increased, the council is still subsidising post-16 transport to a cost of around £300 per student.

Cllr Tony Gosling, cabinet member for children's services on North Lincolnshire Council, said: "The Tories introduced this policy as an election bribe in 2003. They promised free transport for all students but could only partially deliver their promise when they realised how much it would cost them. Instead they created a two-tier system that rewarded rural areas and penalised those in Scunthorpe and Bottesford."

"Since the scheme was introduced the Labour government has introduced EMA grants of up to £30 a week to encourage students to attend further education. This includes a provision for students to get to and from college. It is unfair for the taxpayer to pay for this twice. If we did not change the level of subsidy to post-16 transport it would have had a major impact on council tax levels. We consulted with residents through the SIMALTO scheme and the majority of them told us the rate of subsidy was too high."

"This year the scheme would cost the taxpayer £600,000 and it is increasing year-on-year. The Tories created a monster that is out of step with councils nationwide. Not one authority subsidises this service to the same amount we do. Many councils do not provide any money at all. We have protected students who are currently at college and they will continue to pay £30 for a pass throughout the lifetime of their studies. However, students who start from September this year will have to pay the new rate."