Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the 4,000 zero emission buses the Government has committed to will be UK-made.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We are providing over £525 million dedicated funding for zero emissions buses (ZEBs) this Parliament, though a number of funding schemes:
Funding from other funding schemes, such as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), can also be used by local areas to support the introduction of ZEBs. In addition, the rate at which the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) can be claimed for ZEBs was increased from 6p to 22p per km in April 2022. This supports operators to introduce ZEBs by reducing the overall cost of ownership.
Table 1 below presents the estimated number of zero emission buses that have been funded in England since February 2020. Where available, information has been provided on the status of the buses and the name of the bus manufacturer has been included. The numbers in Table 1 are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore subject to change.
Funding scheme | Funding awarded to | No. Buses | Status | Bus manufacturer |
ZEBRA | Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority | 30 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Kent County Council | 33 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Leicester City Council | 96 | 6 buses on the road 68 buses ordered 22 buses funded | 6 buses on the road supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong 68 buses ordered from Wrightbus Bus manufacturer for 22 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Milton Keynes City Council | 56 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Warrington Borough Council | 120 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | South Yorkshire Combined Authority | 27 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Norfolk County Council | 15 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | North Yorkshire County Council | 39 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Portsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council | 34 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | Blackpool Council | 115 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Nottingham City Council | 78 | 12 ordered. 66 funded. | 12 buses supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong. Bus manufacturer for 66 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Greater Manchester Combined Authority | 170 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Hertfordshire County Council | 27 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | West Midlands Combined Authority | 124 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | City of York Council | 44 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 111 | 32 buses ordered 79 buses funded. | 32 buses ordered from Wrightbus Bus manufacturer for 79 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Oxfordshire County Council | 159 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
All Electric Bus Town or City Scheme | West Midlands Combined Authority | Up to 300 | 130 buses ordered | 130 buses ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Transforming Cities Fund | Leicester City Council | 18 | 18 buses on the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Transforming Cities Fund | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority | 20 | Ordered | 20 buses ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Transforming Cities Fund | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 8 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement | Greater Manchester Combined Authority | 50 | Ordered | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Brighton & Hove Buses | 20 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | First West Yorkshire | 9 | On the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Go North East | 9 | On the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Nottinghamshire County Council | 4 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Stagecoach Manchester | 32 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | The Big Lemon | 3 | On the road | Supplied by Harris Group and manufactured by Higer |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 5 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Local transport authority funding | Surrey County Council | 34 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
Local transport authority funding | Hertfordshire County Council | 1 | On the road | Switch Mobility |
Local transport authority funding | Transport for London | 600 |
|
|
Total |
| 2,391 |
|
|
Table 2 below presents information on the estimated number of zero emission buses that have been funded in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since February 2020. The numbers in Table 2 are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore subject to change.
Funding Scheme | Number of Buses |
UK Government funding for Wales through the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | 68 |
Welsh Government funding | 16 |
Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | 272 |
Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund | 276 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2020-21 | 100 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2021-22 | 38 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2022-23 | 100 |
Total | 870 |
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government will meet its target of delivering 4,000 zero emission buses within the 2019 Parliament.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
We are providing over £525 million dedicated funding for zero emissions buses (ZEBs) this Parliament, though a number of funding schemes:
Funding from other funding schemes, such as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), can also be used by local areas to support the introduction of ZEBs. In addition, the rate at which the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) can be claimed for ZEBs was increased from 6p to 22p per km in April 2022. This supports operators to introduce ZEBs by reducing the overall cost of ownership.
Table 1 below presents the estimated number of zero emission buses that have been funded in England since February 2020. Where available, information has been provided on the status of the buses and the name of the bus manufacturer has been included. The numbers in Table 1 are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore subject to change.
Funding scheme | Funding awarded to | No. Buses | Status | Bus manufacturer |
ZEBRA | Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority | 30 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Kent County Council | 33 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Leicester City Council | 96 | 6 buses on the road 68 buses ordered 22 buses funded | 6 buses on the road supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong 68 buses ordered from Wrightbus Bus manufacturer for 22 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Milton Keynes City Council | 56 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Warrington Borough Council | 120 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | South Yorkshire Combined Authority | 27 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Norfolk County Council | 15 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | North Yorkshire County Council | 39 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Portsmouth City Council & Hampshire County Council | 34 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | Blackpool Council | 115 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Nottingham City Council | 78 | 12 ordered. 66 funded. | 12 buses supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong. Bus manufacturer for 66 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Greater Manchester Combined Authority | 170 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Hertfordshire County Council | 27 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | West Midlands Combined Authority | 124 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | City of York Council | 44 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
ZEBRA | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 111 | 32 buses ordered 79 buses funded. | 32 buses ordered from Wrightbus Bus manufacturer for 79 buses subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
ZEBRA | Oxfordshire County Council | 159 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
All Electric Bus Town or City Scheme | West Midlands Combined Authority | Up to 300 | 130 buses ordered | 130 buses ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Transforming Cities Fund | Leicester City Council | 18 | 18 buses on the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Transforming Cities Fund | Liverpool City Region Combined Authority | 20 | Ordered | 20 buses ordered from Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Transforming Cities Fund | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 8 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement | Greater Manchester Combined Authority | 50 | Ordered | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Brighton & Hove Buses | 20 | Ordered | Wrightbus |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | First West Yorkshire | 9 | On the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Go North East | 9 | On the road | Supplied by Pelican & Coach UK and manufactured by Yutong |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Nottinghamshire County Council | 4 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | Stagecoach Manchester | 32 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | The Big Lemon | 3 | On the road | Supplied by Harris Group and manufactured by Higer |
Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | West Yorkshire Combined Authority | 5 | On the road | Alexander Dennis Ltd |
Local transport authority funding | Surrey County Council | 34 | Funded | Bus manufacturer subject to outcome of procurement process by local transport authority or bus operator. |
Local transport authority funding | Hertfordshire County Council | 1 | On the road | Switch Mobility |
Local transport authority funding | Transport for London | 600 |
|
|
Total |
| 2,391 |
|
|
Table 2 below presents information on the estimated number of zero emission buses that have been funded in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since February 2020. The numbers in Table 2 are not official statistics: they are based on the latest information available and are therefore subject to change.
Funding Scheme | Number of Buses |
UK Government funding for Wales through the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | 68 |
Welsh Government funding | 16 |
Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme | 272 |
Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund | 276 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2020-21 | 100 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2021-22 | 38 |
Northern Ireland Executive Funding FY 2022-23 | 100 |
Total | 870 |
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to introduce a Crown Commercial Services framework for zero emission vehicles.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport works closely with Crown Commercial Services, which have multiple procurement frameworks to help public bodies buy goods and services, including on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The frameworks are used by government fleets, local authorities and the wider public sector to support the transition to zero emission vehicles and help meet our net zero goals.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the role of the bus industry in delivering the levelling-up agenda.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The National Bus Strategy published in March 2021 will help deliver better bus services for passengers across England, including through far-reaching reform of how services are planned and delivered, targeted fares reductions and bus priority measures. Enhanced Partnerships and Franchising arrangements will deliver more comprehensive services to drive forward the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support the UK bus and coach industry.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Since the start of the pandemic, an unprecedented level of support has been provided to the bus sector. Initially, over £1.5bn in emergency support was provided to operators and Local Transport Authorities through the Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant.
Recognising the ongoing financial challenges faced by the sector as passengers return, the Government has provided an additional £226.5m in recovery support through the Bus Recovery Grant. This scheme will run between September 2021 and April 2022.
For the coach industry, the Government has announced a range of measures available to support UK businesses, including coach operators, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough), loan schemes and grant funding.
On 25 March 2021, the Government announced a new Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) of £1.5 billion, available to support those businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates. While this funding is allocated at local authorities’ discretion, the Government has issued guidance to councils encouraging them to consider tour operators among the businesses eligible for support. Coach operators should contact their local authorities for more information.
The Department continues to engage with stakeholders from both sectors to understand the challenges faced and support recovery.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the £355 million allocated in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 for zero-emission buses, when he expects production of these buses to begin.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As set out in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 £355 million of new funding has been made available for zero emission buses. £150 million of this funding has been made available for 2021-22. The Department intends to allocate this funding to support to the Zero Emission Bus Region Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, taking the total funding available for the scheme to £270 million in the financial year 2021 to 2022.
£70.8 million of this funding has been awarded from the ZEBRA to five local transport authorities: Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Leicester City Council, Kent County Council, Milton Keynes Council and Warrington Borough Council. The Department is in the process of formally awarding funding to these areas. A further 17 local transport authorities are working to produce business cases under the standard process of the scheme. The Department will award funding to successful business cases under the standard process in Spring 2022. As set out in guidance for the ZEBRA scheme all zero emission buses should come into service no later than two years after funding has been awarded.
The remaining £205 million funding announced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will be available over the Spending Review period. The Department will provide further details on how this funding will be used in due course.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many zero-emission buses will be purchased using the £335 million allocated in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 for this purpose.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As set out in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 £355 million of new funding has been made available for zero emission buses. £150 million of this funding has been made available for 2021-22. The Department intends to allocate this funding to support to the Zero Emission Bus Region Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, taking the total funding available for the scheme to £270 million in the financial year 2021 to 2022.
£70.8 million of this funding has been awarded from the ZEBRA to five local transport authorities: Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Leicester City Council, Kent County Council, Milton Keynes Council and Warrington Borough Council. The Department is in the process of formally awarding funding to these areas. A further 17 local transport authorities are working to produce business cases under the standard process of the scheme. The Department will award funding to successful business cases under the standard process in Spring 2022. As set out in guidance for the ZEBRA scheme all zero emission buses should come into service no later than two years after funding has been awarded.
The remaining £205 million funding announced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will be available over the Spending Review period. The Department will provide further details on how this funding will be used in due course.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the £335 million allocated in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 for zero-emission buses, how much of this funding will be made available in the next financial year.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
As set out in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 £355 million of new funding has been made available for zero emission buses. £150 million of this funding has been made available for 2021-22. The Department intends to allocate this funding to support to the Zero Emission Bus Region Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, taking the total funding available for the scheme to £270 million in the financial year 2021 to 2022.
£70.8 million of this funding has been awarded from the ZEBRA to five local transport authorities: Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Leicester City Council, Kent County Council, Milton Keynes Council and Warrington Borough Council. The Department is in the process of formally awarding funding to these areas. A further 17 local transport authorities are working to produce business cases under the standard process of the scheme. The Department will award funding to successful business cases under the standard process in Spring 2022. As set out in guidance for the ZEBRA scheme all zero emission buses should come into service no later than two years after funding has been awarded.
The remaining £205 million funding announced in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will be available over the Spending Review period. The Department will provide further details on how this funding will be used in due course.
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the HGV Road User Levy has raised from foreign HGVs since its introduction.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Since 2014, all Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) weighing more than 12 tonnes pay a levy to use United Kingdom roads. While this levy has been suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is responsible for a drop in income since August 2020, £306 million has been raised by foreign registered vehicles. A breakdown of foreign registered vehicle revenue per year is set out below:
Year | Foreign registered vehicles (Millions) |
2014/15 | 40 |
2015/16 | 49 |
2016/17 | 54 |
2017/18 | 50 |
2018/19 | 51 |
2019/20 | 45 |
2020/21 | 17 |
Asked by: Robert Goodwill (Conservative - Scarborough and Whitby)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to High Speed Two to date; and what the total cost of that project is estimated to be by 2021.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
£7.4bn (excl. construction VAT) has been spent on delivering the HS2 project up to 31 March 2019. Expenditure in relation to the 2020/21 financial year, will be released as part of HS2 Ltd’s and the Department’s annual accounts publication. These are subject to audit processes to ensure accuracy. The Oakervee Review has been tasked with rigorously examining HS2 Ltd’s costs and schedule. The Review findings and Government’s assessment of the likely costs of High Speed 2 will be published shortly.