Bus Services: Mid Bedfordshire

(asked on 8th November 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support local authorities provide access to bus services for remote communities in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.


Answered by
Mark Harper Portrait
Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
This question was answered on 13th November 2023

The Government recognises the importance of transport provision in rural areas and is committed to finding solutions which ensure that local communities in these areas have viable and improved transport services.

The Department for Transport is investing in the bus sector to deliver the ambitions of the National Bus Strategy to make bus services more reliable and cheaper. Over £1 billion was allocated to 34 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) in the first phase of funding for LTAs to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). All other LTAs received funding from the £160m Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus (BSIP+) fund announced in May 2023.

On 4 October, as part of Network North, we announced a further £1 billion from redirected HS2 funding to level up bus services in the North and Midlands via BSIP, making them more frequent, more reliable, cheaper, and easier to use. We are also extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, meaning we are investing nearly £600 million in total to cap bus fares across England since the scheme was launched. On top of this, we have announced that a new uplift of 60% will be added to Community Transport Operators’ (CTOs) Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) claims until 31 March 2025.

Central Bedfordshire received £3,724,719 in Government funding to make improvements set out in their BSIP up to March 2025 in the first phase of BSIP funding. They have also been allocated £700,914 in the second phase of BSIP+ funding up to March 2025.

Bedford Borough Council have been allocated £1,093,514 in the second phase of BSIP+ funding up to March 2025.

LTAs in receipt of BSIP and/or BSIP+ funding may use the funding to target it on the actions that they – and local operators through their Enhanced Partnership (where relevant) – believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and thus maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity for local communities

Reticulating Splines