Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to and received from (1) bus and coach companies, and (2) local authorities on behalf of bus and coach companies, concerning the difficulties of operating bus, coach and travel services in the United Kingdom.

The Government is in regular communication with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the provision of bus and coach services. As Minister with responsibility for bus policy, I also hold frequent meetings with representatives from local authorities and the passenger transport industry.

For example, on 16 July I chaired the latest bi-annual meeting of the Bus Partnership Forum - whose membership includes a wide spectrum of key partners from the bus and coach industry as well as elected members and officials from local authorities and their constituent bodies.