Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of reduced bus service (a) frequency and (b) routes on people travelling to healthcare appointments in (i) North Cornwall and (ii) other rural areas.

The government knows that a modern public transport network is vital to keeping communities connected, and ensuring people can get to education and work, including healthcare workers.

The government believes that local transport authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December 2024 to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of communities that rely on them.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Cornwall Council has been allocated £10.59 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce improvements to bus services and infrastructure to best meet the needs of passengers in their local area.