Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has plans to mandate local transport authorities which have received an initial Bus Service Improvement Plan settlement to support those bus services.

As we announced on 17 May, Local Transport Authorities can use a proportion of their BSIP revenue funding to support existing services subject to approval, where required, from the Department.

The Department has set out BSIP monitoring and accountability arrangements in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all LTAs that have received BSIP allocations.

Bus operators and Local Transport Authorities are expected to work in cooperation as they develop and implement their Enhanced Partnerships or franchising plans.