Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with Cheshire East Council to help improve (a) buses and (b) other public transport in Macclesfield.
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 session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Cheshire, to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. The Bill will seek to increase the 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.
The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities including Cheshire East Council, to deliver better bus and public transport services throughout England.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that Cheshire East Council has the power to hold bus companies to account.
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 session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Cheshire East, to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.
The Bill will seek to increase the 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. The government will continue working closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on its ambitions.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to make an assessment of the effectiveness of the use of prosecutions for low level offenses by rail operators.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I am aware of the recent coverage of a number of prosecutions undertaken by one rail operator. It would be inappropriate to comment on the details of individual cases, but we expect operators to ensure their policy on ticketing is clear and fair for passengers at all times and have instructed the operator to review the details of these cases urgently. Ticketing has become far too complicated which is why we plan to simplify it as part of the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to help Cheshire East Council scrutinise the performance of local 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 session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Cheshire East, to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.
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.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to support Cheshire East council improve local transport across Macclesfield constituency.
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 session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Cheshire East, to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.
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.