Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to allocate recovery funding to bus services in response to the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government is currently providing up to £27.3m per week of emergency funding to the bus sector through the COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG) scheme, ensuring that essential services continue to be provided. We will provide CBSSG until the funding is no longer needed.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when funding for bus operators through the covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant will cease.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG) has no pre-agreed end date. The Department will work with operators and authorities to ensure the transition away from CBSSG emergency funding is timed appropriately.
Recipients of CBSSG funding will be given eight weeks’ notice before funding ceases.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the National Bus Strategy will give powers to local authorities powers to establish a municipal bus company.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The National Bus Strategy, which will be launched in the coming weeks, will focus on how national and local government, and the private sector will come together to deliver better bus services and meet the needs of local communities. The Strategy is the first step in longer process; there will be much detail to develop in collaboration with stakeholders after publication.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) promote national cycling safety campaigns and (b) issue guidance to local authorities on cycling safety in response to the increase in cycling due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
On the 9th May the Government announced a £2 billion package of funding for cycling and walking over the next five years. The Government will say more in the summer about its plans to boost cycling and improve cycle safety.
The Government has issued new statutory guidance to local authorities encouraging them to take measures to reallocate road space to people walking and cycling. It has also introduced a £225 million Emergency Active Travel Fund, available to local authorities this financial year for immediate measures to improve cycle safety including new cycle lanes.