Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) extending the forthcoming national £2 bus fare cap to tram services and (b) providing funding to local transport authorities and tram operators to enable tram fares to be capped at the same level as the bus fare cap.

As buses are the most widely used form of public transport in England, the Department is prioritising support for lowering bus fares as part of the Government's plan to give families more breathing space. Given the finite funding available, the Government has focused its investment where it can have the greatest impact for the largest number of passengers.

Responsibility for light rail, including tramways, is devolved in England. Local authorities own and are responsible for the operation and financial sustainability of their systems, including the setting of fares. Local transport authorities have received significant Government funding settlements to support local transport priorities and may choose to use this funding to support tram services or reduce tram fares where that aligns with local priorities.