Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to help improve the frequency of bus services in rural areas; and if he will increase funding for the provision of additional buses in those areas where services are infrequent.

This question was answered on 23rd October 2023
Good bus services are vital in rural areas and this Government has invested to protect them. Since 2020, we have invested over £3.5 billion in buses, including a recently announced further £300 million to protect and enhance services from July 2023 to April 2025 via BISP+ and BSOG+.

The decision to cancel HS2 North of Litchfield means that we can do more still. We will direct £36 billion to Network North in the Midlands and North of England, this includes a further £1 billion extra for bus networks over the next five years.

On top of the funding already announced, this means extending the ‘Get Around for Two Pound’ single bus fares to the 31st December 2024.

Of the £1 billion we announced, in the first year, 2024-5 ,we’ll be allocating £150 million to councils to support and enhance bus networks in the Midlands and the North, this includes a further £4,982,000 for Staffordshire County Council.