Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department plans to issue to Local Transport Authorities on (a) identifying and (b) protecting socially necessary bus services under enhanced partnership provisions in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill.

The Department has been engaging with local transport authorities and other stakeholders to develop the relevant guidance for this measure. This will include information on identifying socially necessary local services and provide examples of the options local transport authorities can consider when implementing it. The guidance will be published once the Bill receives Royal Assent and as part of a wider update to guidance for Enhanced Partnerships.