A MOTION defending free travel for under 18s in London was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday amid criticism that the scheme is fuelling anti-social behaviour.

The motion followed the London Assembly Conservatives' alternative budget which proposed scrapping the scheme.

The Conservatives - and even some police bosses - have argued that free travel feeds antisocial behaviour by allowing teenagers to ride the buses unchecked.

There are concerns it has enabled young people to travel to and escape from large-scale street disorder.

Evidence has been given in several court cases and licensing hearings suggesting that free travel has made it easier for tearaways to move around the capital and indulge in underage drinking and disorder.

However, today Mayor Ken Livingstone insisted that anti-social behaviour had remained constant or even "fractionally lowered" since the introduction of free travel for under 18s.

He argued that the scheme was benefitting some 385,000 children in the capital and said families with three children were saving more than £1,000 a year.

"I grew up in a city where public transport was cheap and safe," he said. "I grew up exploring the city's museums and parks and I want that for young people today."

Labour MP for Dagenham Jon Cruddas tabled the Early Day Motion which "supports the provision in London of free bus and tram travel in the capital for all under-18s in full-time education".

Mr Cruddas believes free travel should be seen as one of the mayor's "enduring sucesses".

"The key thing is the freedom it affords youngsters across the city," he said.

"All the borough's MPs have thousands of youngsters in their constituencies who have benefited and who risk losing out if thiese cuts go ahead."

He called on the Conservatives to make their position on the scheme clear, adding: "I think people deserve to know where the Conservatives stand on this vital issue to Londoners."

LA member Tony Arbour, who represents Hounslow in his south-west London constituency, voted with his Conservative colleagues against mayor Ken Livingstone spending £55m on free bus and tram travel for all under-18s in full-time education.

Mr Arbour said the mayor's policy was flawed after receiving numerous complaints from residents and called for a US style school bus system to be introduced.

He said there had been a sharp rise in antisocial behaviour on the bus network since free travel was introduced and the scheme dispersed crime because pass holders travelled to distant town centres making it difficult for police to track down the offenders.

"Other bus users are finding it difficult to get seats on the bus," he continued. "And children who may previously have walked or cycled to school are now travelling very short distances by bus, which is unhealthy.

"Providing a blanket pass is an extravagant waste of taxpayers money. Dedicated school buses will target the need - if they're good enough for Bart and Lisa Simpson then they're good enough for us."

London MPs backing the motion include Dawn Butler, Neil Gerrard, Karen Buck, Andrew Dismore, Andy Love, Clive Efford and Emily Thornberry.

George Meehan, Leader of Haringey Council, said: "Free bus travel for kids makes such a huge difference to so many families in Haringey and across London.

"Cutting the scheme is totally unacceptable. Eighty per cent of Londoners back the free travel scheme which is good for London's environment and good for London's children."

London's transport commissioner Peter Hendy has sidestepped questions on whether the free travel was fuelling anti-social behaviour.

"It would be unrealistic to expect TfL to provide dedicated school services for every need so schoolchildren avoid the regular bus network entirely," he said.

Mr Hendy said Transport for London was in discussion with a number of councils about the problem.

"We will always look at requests for additional school services but regular buses must play their part too," Mr Hendy added. "It would be unrealistic to expect TfL to provide dedicated school services for every need so schoolchildren avoid the regular bus network entirely."

Since September, 16 and 17-year-olds living in the London area in full-time education or unwaged training can apply for an Oyster photocard, offering them free travel on the capital's bus and tram network.

The smartcard also allows them to travel at half the adult fare on the Tube and DLR. The scheme followed the abolition of fares on buses and trams for under 16s and for under 11s on the Tube.

Mr Livingstone said polls showed eight out of 10 Londoners supported the policy.

"I am not in the slightest bit interested in stories of how David Cameron may or may not have taken drugs when he was at Eton," the mayor said in his blog on the Guardian website.

"I am more concerned about how his party, under all the spin, is unchanged and attacking services in London such as free bus and tram travel for children.

"There should be absolutely no doubt that there is now a sustained attack on free travel schemes in London."

The Transport and General Workers Union has called on trade unionists to lobby LA members at the final budget-setting meeting at City Hall on Wednesday.