Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of night-time public transport on the night-time economy.

We have been clear through the National Bus Strategy that partnerships and franchising arrangements must deliver more comprehensive services, including those which are socially or economically necessary. As part of the Strategy the Government plans to issue new guidance on ‘socially necessary’ services, expanding the category to include ‘economically necessary’ services such as those supporting the night time economy.