Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lilian Greenwood and Elsie Blundell

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)]

11. What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for bus services in mayoral strategic authorities.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood)]

This Government believe in better buses across the UK, and half of the £1.4 billion local authority bus grant resource funding is going to support services in mayoral strategic authorities. Altogether, they will receive more than £11.5 billion of consolidated funding up to 2030 to improve and deliver better local transport services and modern infrastructure, and that includes £1.6 billion for Greater Manchester.

[Mrs Blundell]

As the Minister knows, since my election I have been campaigning for an express bus service from my constituency to Manchester city centre. Following key improvements to the network across Greater Manchester, a consultation that I did across my constituency shows that we still need the introduction of that express bus service. What conversations are taking place between the Department for Transport, the Treasury and our transport authorities specifically to prioritise closing gaps in bus provision and to ensure that there is sustained, long-term funding for buses to make that possible?

[Lilian Greenwood]

My hon. Friend is a great champion for local transport. This Government are committed to supporting improved bus services, and at the spending review we confirmed more than £3 billion in long-term funding until 2028-29. We believe that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about services in their areas, and this funding includes £133.5 million for Greater Manchester that the local authority can use to expand the Bee Network, as she suggests. Of course, we very regularly meet Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss that.