Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to encourage community transport providers across the UK to continue to offer (a) grass-roots voluntary car schemes, (b) day trips for local elderly or vulnerable people, (c) other local transport services that would not otherwise be available and (d) local road passenger transport services; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has provided over 300 local charities and community groups across England with over 400 minibuses to use for the benefit of their passengers, through the £25 million Community Minibus Fund.

In addition, during in the 2016 to 2017 financial year, the Department spent almost £3.5 million on supporting the community transport sector through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG).