Oral Answers to Questions

David Williams Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)]

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

[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)]

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

[Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury) (Lab)]

15. What steps she is taking to help improve local bus services in rural areas.

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Lightwood]

I am concerned to hear that. Disabled passengers much be able to use the buses as easily as non-disabled passengers, and from October, most local bus services must provide on-board audible and visual announcements. Our Bus Services Act 2025 will require authorities to publish a bus network accessibility plan, and mandate that all drivers complete disability assistance training. I too will write to my hon. Friend’s local council.

[David Williams]

Happy new year, Mr Speaker. In Stoke- on-Trent, the Labour-led council has already delivered lower fares and new and improved routes, such as the 9A, which links the communities of Mill Hill, Chell and Bradeley with Hanley and Tunstall. Will the Minister please outline how the multi-year settlement, including the amazing additional £72 million for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, will allow councils to lock in those gains and provide longer-term certainty for our passengers?

[Simon Lightwood]

The multi-year allocations that we are providing to local authorities will give passengers greater certainty about their local bus services, allowing local leaders better to decide how they want local bus provision to look for years to come. It is great news for local people that Labour-run Stoke-on-Trent council is cutting fares and improving routes, and I would urge Reform-led Staffordshire council to take a leaf out of the book of its Labour-led neighbour, and put Government funding to good use.