Oral Answers to Questions

Laura Kyrke-Smith Excerpts

Thursday 26th June 2025 Commons Chamber

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

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

[Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)]

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

[Paul Davies (Colne Valley) (Lab)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[Simon Lightwood]

I congratulate Stoke-on-Trent on its success. It is great to hear that local ambitions are being realised through new bus services, lower fares and more accessible buses. Funding has been announced for 2025-26: Stoke-on-Trent city council was awarded £9.8 million, and Staffordshire county council was awarded £11 million. Future allocations for individual local authorities will be confirmed in due course.

[Laura Kyrke-Smith]

I am grateful to the more than 300 residents who took part in my bus survey. Many expressed frustration about Arriva’s decision to cut the X5 service, leaving schoolchildren stranded and people unable to get to work. Fortunately, on this occasion, Red Eagle Buses stepped in, but what happened speaks to the wider issue of bus companies not putting residents’ needs first. Will the Minister join me in asking Buckinghamshire council to take up the new franchising powers in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill to fix exactly that issue?

[Simon Lightwood]

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, enabling them to choose the bus model that works best for their areas. The Government will support local transport authorities that decide that the franchising route is the best option for them, delivering improvements to services in their area. I hope that my hon. Friend’s local council will work with her and her constituents to find the best local solution.