Reeves Announces Free August Bus Rides for Children, Fuel Duty Freeze, and Food Tariff Cuts

**Chancellor Rachel Reeves will offer free bus rides for children aged 15 and under in August, keep fuel duty frozen, give lorry drivers a year‑long tax holiday, and cut tariffs on biscuits, chocolates and dried fruits to ease inflation pressures.

The government is responding to rising living costs linked to the Iran conflict and higher energy prices. Reeves says protecting households from inflation is her top priority and will present the measures in a Commons statement on Thursday. The announcement follows the Chancellor’s spring budget, which already included energy bill relief for millions of households.

Children aged 15 and under will receive free bus travel throughout August under the Great British summer savings scheme. Lorry drivers will receive a 12‑month vehicle tax holiday and the fuel duty freeze will be extended for the remainder of the year.

The Treasury will consult on removing tariffs on imported biscuits, chocolates and dried fruits to lower consumer prices. Officials say the package will be funded through existing departmental budgets, with further details to be set out in the autumn budget.

The free bus rides aim to reduce transport costs for families during the summer holiday period. The fuel duty freeze and tax holiday for hauliers are intended to keep diesel prices stable, which could limit upward pressure on goods transport costs. Removing food tariffs may slightly cut retail prices for sweet snacks and dried fruit, though the overall impact on inflation is expected to be modest.

Analysts note that such targeted measures tend to benefit higher‑income households more than low‑income families. The government says the steps are part of a broader effort to shield consumers from expected price rises later this year.

Watch for the Treasury’s funding details in the autumn budget and any subsequent changes to fuel duty or vehicle tax that could affect household bills.