Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the results of the mobility fund projects; and whether he plans to release further funding to support demand responsive transport in rural areas.

Our £20m Rural Mobility Fund is supporting 17 innovative, demand-led minibus trials in rural and suburban areas. These pilots are exploring whether Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) can serve these communities more effectively than traditional public transport solutions alone. It is too early to assess the full impact of the pilots. Each scheme is taking part in a detailed monitoring and evaluation process. This will provide a strong base of evidence and good practice for DRT and a better understanding of both the role it can play and the challenges associated with introducing it.

There are not currently plans for further bespoke DRT funding. Whilst it is for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to determine and prioritise investment in local transport, the Government’s National Bus Strategy asked all LTAs outside London to publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) covering the full area, including parts with differing needs, such as rural elements. The Strategy encourages new forms of bus provision in areas that are currently not adequately served by conventional timetabled buses. It is clear that DRT can play a part in delivering this.

Funding has recently been allocated to 34 LTAs following assessment of their BSIPs, some of which include proposals for DRT.