Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department requires local authorities to consult bus service users as part of applications for funding under the Bus Services Improvement Plan.

It is mandatory that Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) seek and report the views of passengers on the merits and demerits of bus services in their area. The National Bus Strategy sets out clearly how we expect BSIPs to take into account the views of local people.