Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support rural bus routes.

The Government recognises the vital role of rural buses in connecting people with jobs, education, healthcare, family and friends.

On 22 July, we announced that single bus tickets will be capped at £2 from 1 January 2027, particularly important for higher uncapped single fares in rural areas. The Government has also confirmed funding through the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) for the remainder of the Spending Review period. The formula takes account of the needs of each local transport authority and specifically includes rurality. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will receive £36.4 million under the LABG.

Local leaders know their areas best and are best placed to make decisions about the bus services their communities need. That is why the Bus Services Act 2025 put decision-making into the hands of local leaders across England. The Act includes a measure tightening requirements for cancelling or amending socially necessary routes.

The Government recognises that there are different ways of improving bus services and the needs of urban and rural areas differ. That is why we are funding pilot studies to explore different models of bus franchising in predominantly rural areas to consider the best way of providing better services to passengers. This includes in York and North Yorkshire.

It is this government’s view that Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) can play an important role in ensuring communities can access transport services in areas where more traditional, regular stopping services may not be viable. We published DRT best practice guidance in December 2025 which provides local authorities with a guide to setting up and deploying DRT schemes.