Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will publish the formula used to determine the final allocations for bus service improvement plan funding for local transport authorities for 2025-26.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £3 million of this funding.
Funding for local authorities to deliver their bus service improvement plans has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Department has made of the level of passenger brand awareness of franchised rail operators.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not assessed the level of passenger brand awareness of franchised rail operators. The operating companies periodically test their own brand awareness as part of their own market research, but this information is not shared with the Department, nor is this research routinely conducted on a frequent basis.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme (a) have been ordered and (b) are on the road.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Of the 2,263 buses funded through the ZEBRA 1 and 2 programmes 1,674 buses have been ordered (1,025 - ZEBRA 1 & 649 ZEBRA 2) whilst there are currently 582 ZEBs in service.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with TFL on the location of the bus station at Euston station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is working with key partners, including Transport for London, to develop affordable plans for the Euston Station Campus.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme are UK-manufactured.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
UK-based bus manufacturers have benefited the most from the Department’s funding programmes, such as ZEBRA. It is estimated that 60% of ZEBRA-supported buses will be procured from UK-based manufacturers, supporting economic growth and jobs across the zero-carbon transport industry.
The transition to zero emission buses represents a great opportunity for UK bus manufacturers, both to supply the zero emission buses needed here in the UK and to win export orders abroad as other countries upgrade their bus fleets.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the requirement to hold a provisional bus, coach or HGV licence to undertake the theory and off-road modules of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence test.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.
Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the 50km restriction for 18- to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers on a regular service.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.
Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support multi-modal interchanges at (a) HS2 Euston Station and (b) all other new stations.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is working with key partners to develop affordable plans for the Euston Station Campus, which will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station, and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities along with a significant level of development. The ease of interchange for passengers will always be a critical consideration.
At Old Oak Common, the new HS2 station will provide connectivity with Elizabeth Line, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway services within the station itself. This will be supported by connections for buses, private hire vehicles and active travel routes outside the station building.
At Birmingham Curzon Street, the Department is working with HS2 Ltd and Transport for West Midlands on the integration of the Birmingham Eastside metro extension at the HS2 station. There will also be provision for bus stops, active travel routes, and bicycle storage.
At Interchange station, HS2 will construct an Automated People Mover which will connect the station to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham International railway station and Birmingham Airport. The design for the station also incorporates a bus interchange, short and long stay car parking, bicycle storage, and a network of active travel routes.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reintroducing electric vehicle purchase grants for private owners.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government already provides support for private owners looking to purchase zero emission vehicles, including generous taxation incentives and Plug-in Vehicle Grants for specific types of vehicles.
In the recent Budget, the Government announced £120m of new funding for next financial year to support the purchase of new electric vans via the Plug-in Van Grant and to support the manufacture of wheelchair accessible EVs.