Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bus routes have been lost in Dorset since 2010.

Buses in England outside London were deregulated by the Transport Act 1985 and are largely operated on a commercial basis, with bus operators responsible for decisions about routes and service levels. Consequently, local networks were often determined by commercial viability, and the Department does not hold data on local routes loss.

The Government is committed to delivering better buses nationwide through the Bus Services Act 2025 which put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England. Giving local leaders the powers to choose the model that works best for their area, whether it be bus franchising, strengthened Enhanced Partnerships or local authority bus companies, Government is working to ensure services reflect local community’s needs.

The Act includes a socially necessary local services measure. This requires local authorities to identify those services they consider are socially necessary. If withdrawal or substantial variation of these services is considered, the local authority and operator must work together to consider all possible options before making any significant changes. This layer of transparency ensures that the needs of the passenger remain at the centre of any decision-making process.

Dorset Council will receive £12.2 million under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) from 2026/27 until 2028/29, in addition to the £3.8 million already received in 2025/26. Local authorities have the flexibility to use this grant to deliver the best outcomes for passengers in their area, whether through lower fares, more frequent services, or enhanced rural bus provision.