Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Davies Excerpts

Thursday 26th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)]

3. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

[Paul Davies (Colne Valley) (Lab)]

5. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

6. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Lightwood]

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, enabling them to choose the bus model that works best for their areas. The Government will support local transport authorities that decide that the franchising route is the best option for them, delivering improvements to services in their area. I hope that my hon. Friend’s local council will work with her and her constituents to find the best local solution.

[Paul Davies]

Reliable and accessible local bus services are vital for our communities, connecting people to work, education, healthcare and each other. Yet too often, services are reduced or withdrawn due to low usage, leaving many isolated. To ensure that those services remain viable, we must not only improve them but encourage more people to use them. What steps are the Government taking not only to improve local bus services but to commit to running national or regional campaigns to boost bus usage and protect those essential routes?

[Simon Lightwood]

We will encourage operators and local authorities to work together to run their own regional campaigns to help boost bus usage. Funding provided to local authorities through the local authority bus grant to improve services could be used for that kind of campaign, if those authorities feel that will help them to meet their bus service improvement plan objectives.