Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the use of hydrogen for decarbonising heavy goods vehicles.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is aware that hydrogen has a potential role to play in decarbonising heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
The £200 million zero emission HGV and infrastructure demonstrator programme will demonstrate both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on UK roads alongside recharging and refuelling infrastructure. The programme will gather data for a 5-year demonstration period which will be released publicly throughout the duration of the programme.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will take steps to issue guidance to local authorities on the establishment of publicly-owned bus companies.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Improving local transport services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.
As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this parliamentary session. The Bill will increase powers available to local leaders to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership.
Government will continue working closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions, and will publish guidance to support bus reform delivered through the Buses Bill as appropriate.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support bus services in rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this parliamentary session, which will put decision-making into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas right across England. This will allow local areas to determine how best to design their bus services so that they have control over routes and schedules.
The government has also committed to increasing accountability by providing safeguards over local networks across the country and empowering local transport authorities through reforms to bus funding.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department has provided to local authorities on consulting communities on (a) proposals for new and (b) the adequacy of existing bus routes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Improving local transport services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. The government have been clear that bus services need to work better for the local communities who rely on them.
The Department for Transport recently consulted on improving guidance for local authorities who are considering franchising bus services. This guidance includes consideration of the best ways to consult with local communities, and forms part of a package of bus franchising reforms announced on 9 September 2024.
The Department for Transport also published the Bus Service Improvement Plan guidance in 2021, which includes guidance for consulting with communities. The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities on delivering better bus and public transport services throughout England.