Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Written Statement of 23 March 2020 on Rail Update, what plans he has to extend similar emergency measures agreements to bus services.

The Government has announced a package of measures to help the bus industry weather the current situation. These include maintaining central and local government grants and payments at similar levels to those pre-coronavirus, even if services are reduced or cancelled. It also includes allowing local authorities to use the additional £30 million from the £220 million ‘Better Deal for Bus Users’ package to support operators to run essential services for key workers where these are impacted by COVID-19.