Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Cunningham Excerpts

Thursday 10th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

Yes. The Civil Aviation Authority has been working for well over a year to ensure that in the event that we do not continue as a member of EASA we have a properly functional British alternative.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to support community transport operators.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

The services run by community transport operators are of vital importance to our transport sector and communities. During the most recent financial year, the Government supported community transport operators with almost £3.1 million through the bus service operators grant. A number of projects from the £11.5 million building connections fund will also provide new community transport links to support those most at risk of isolation.

[Alex Cunningham]

That is a tiny amount to invest in community transport. My constituency is largely rural, and people in our villages—particularly older people—are left isolated because profit-making bus companies are not interested in serving them. There is some community provision, but very little funding. Will the Minister offer my isolated communities some comfort and commit more money to that sector, either directly or through the combined authority?