Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of available bus routes for people accessing hospital appointments in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to access vital services, such as local hospitals, and we are committed to delivering better bus services right across the country, including in South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire.

The Government’s Bus Services (No.2) Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including ensuring access to vital local services such as hospitals. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Lincolnshire County Council has been allocated £11.9 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including improving access to hospitals in South Holland and the Deepings constituency, and across Lincolnshire.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review, confirming additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.