Oral Answers to Questions

Navendu Mishra Excerpts

Thursday 17th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Robert Courts]

Following the Williams-Shapps review, we have announced the creation of Great British Railways, which will create a truly passenger-focused service for the UK. I have already mentioned the £96 billion that has gone into the integrated rail plan, as well as the restoring your railway programme. The Government are focusing on getting passengers on to rail wherever possible.

[Navendu Mishra (Stockport) (Lab)]

3. What discussions he has had with (a) operator and (b) trade union representatives on bus driver shortages.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Andrew Stephenson)]

My Department continues to work with trade representatives and operators to understand and mitigate the extent, impacts and reasons behind driver shortages.

[Navendu Mishra]

Happy St Patrick’s Day, Mr Speaker. During the pandemic, bus drivers kept vital lifeline services going at huge risk to their health. Many now face reduced pay and conditions and disgraceful fire and rehire tactics employed by disreputable bosses, so they are understandably leaving the industry in droves. What steps are the Government taking to improve the pay and conditions of bus drivers, to encourage people to take up jobs in the sector, and to solve the current shortage?

[Andrew Stephenson]

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to bus drivers, who worked throughout the pandemic. The Government supported the work of local bus services with £1.7 billion of funding throughout the period. We do not intervene, however, on the levels of remuneration in private businesses, with the exception of setting rates for the national minimum wage and the national living wage.