Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use the provisions in the Bus Services Act 2017 to allow non-mayoral authorities to access bus franchising powers.

The Bus Services Act received Royal Assent in April 2017. The Act provides automatic access to franchising powers to mayoral combined authorities. The criteria the Secretary of State will use to determine whether to grant consent to non-mayoral combined authorities will focus on whether the authority in question has clear and locally supported aspirations which will benefit passengers and a sensible plan in place, as well as the right capabilities to make franchising a success.