Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of local bus services.

The 2013 Spending Review protected bus spending until the end of 2015/16, despite tough economic times. This year we have earmarked £270m through Bus Service Operators Grant. This is in addition to £70m of funding provided through the Better Bus Area fund, and further bus funding as part of the £600m Local Sustainable Transport Fund. A total of £59m has also been provided through the Green Bus Fund, with a further £30m earmarked for 2015/16 onwards to improve environmental performance through the Office of Low Emission Vehicles.