Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Rodda Excerpts
Thursday 24th May 2018

(6 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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I welcome the invitation to Cornwall—my summer holiday seems to have been sorted out—and I welcome the new First Kernow buses. I also welcome the fact that the local authority in my hon. Friend’s constituency has worked with the private operator and with the Member of Parliament. That shows that if people and organisations work together, they can put bus services together, even in rural communities.

Matt Rodda Portrait Matt Rodda (Reading East) (Lab)
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Since 2010, bus budgets have been slashed by a third and over 2,500 routes have been withdrawn entirely. The Government recognise that franchising boosts patronage and improves services, which is why franchising was extended to the metro mayoralties. Why then in the midst of a bus crisis is the Minister refusing these same powers to councils across the rest of the country?

Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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Packages for buses are at an all-time high, and I would ask why the mayors who already have the powers have not taken them up. The policy at the moment applies to London and the Mayors of Manchester and Liverpool, so I suggest the hon. Gentleman ask his own Labour Mayor of London why he has not taken these powers up.