Oral Answers to Questions

David Pinto-Duschinsky Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lilian Greenwood]

As I am sure the hon. Lady knows, the Railways Bill will shortly come before this House. We will create Great British Railways, which will make our railways much more convenient for people across the country. I am sure that she looks forward to debating that Bill.

[David Pinto-Duschinsky (Hendon) (Lab)]

5. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services.

[Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab)]

16. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of bus services in rural areas.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)]

We are taking ambitious steps to improve local buses, and our landmark Bus Services Act 2025 empowers local authorities to deliver better services. We are investing over £1 billion in 2025-26, and in the coming weeks, we will confirm multi-year allocations for local authorities, to help improve bus services in the long term.

[David Pinto-Duschinsky]

In constituencies like Hendon, bus services are not a luxury—they are a lifeline for the community, in particular the elderly and disabled people, yet there is more to be done to ensure that all residents are within easy reach of a bus stop. Does my hon. Friend agree that frequent, well-placed bus stops are essential to ensuring that local bus services are truly inclusive and accessible?

[Simon Lightwood]

I agree with my hon. Friend. We are clear that everyone should have access to high-quality, accessible bus services. Responsibility for services in London sits with the mayor, and 96% of Londoners live within 400 metres of a bus stop. To expand the progress made under London’s Labour mayor, we will be developing a new national strategy of stopping place guidance to support inclusive bus stop provision throughout England.