Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to support bus companies in Darlington with recruitment and retention of bus drivers.

The Department for Transport engages with bus and coach operators, and the Confederation of Passenger Transport regularly on many issues, including driver shortages. We have increased the capacity of vocational driving tests, including through the recruitment of additional driving examiners. These measures will make it easier for operators to recruit and train bus and coach drivers up and down the country, including in Darlington.