Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department maintains a list of which local transport authorities are seeking to make use of the franchising powers in the Bus Services Act 2025.

Decisions on whether to pursue bus franchising are for individual local transport authorities and local leaders to make, with the new powers streamlining the franchising process for those that choose to do so.

The Department is committed to making bus franchising quicker, easier and cheaper to deliver and provides support to authorities that wish to explore this option through its franchising support package. In particular, funding has been provided to York and North Yorkshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Hertfordshire, Cornwall and Cumbria to explore different franchising models in areas considering franchising.

The Department for Transport does not maintain a formal list of local transport authorities seeking to make use of the franchising powers in the Bus Services Act 2025.