Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support she is providing to mayoral combined authorities to support the transition to bus franchising systems; what funding she has allocated for transition costs, depot acquisition and fleet procurement; and what her planned timetable is for the rollout of franchised bus services in mayoral combined authority areas.

The Government has confirmed investment of over £3 billion from 2026/27 for the rest of the spending review period to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This funding includes a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the process of developing and implementing bus franchising schemes, which is designed to aid transition. We have also allocated further funding of approximately £10 million per year until 2029 to a franchising support package for local authorities that are actively seeking to transition to a franchised network. MSAs can also use funding allocated to them under the Local Authority Bus Grant to support their transition to franchising where they choose to do so.

The Department for Transport does not have a planned timetable for the rollout of franchised bus services in MSA areas because decisions on whether and when to introduce franchised bus services are for local leaders to take.