Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with the Chief Executive of National Express on cuts to transport services in South Staffordshire.

The Department for Transport regularly engages with bus operators, including National Express, and will continue to do so to support the delivery of sustainable local transport networks.

On 23 October the Government announced that Staffordshire County Council has been allocated a further £4,982,000 for the first year of funding for buses redirect from HS2 funding, building on the £2,655,347 in BSIP+ funding to support and protect bus services allocated in 2023-4 and 2024-5. This can bus used by local authorities to support and enhance bus networks across Staffordshire and is on top of the extension of the national ‘Get Around For Two Pound’ national fare cap scheme.