Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals for the introduction of audio visual access to buses to improve bus services following the Bus Services Act 2017.

The Government collects annual survey data from a sample of bus operators and based on this data, we estimate that 39% of the local bus fleet in Great Britain provided audio-visual information in 2019/20.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with bus operators and their representatives on a range of issues, including the impact of new regulations on existing accessible information provision.

As announced in the National Bus Strategy for England, subject to final analysis, we will make Accessible Information Regulations by Summer 2022, ensuring passengers can board any bus with confidence and that they will know when to alight when their destination is reached.

The Government has also pledged to provide £3.5 million of funding to support smaller bus operators to provide accessible information onboard their services, ensuring passengers benefit from it as soon as possible.