Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect bus routes in the North West from closure.

The bus market outside London is deregulated and decisions regarding service provision is primarily a commercial matter for bus operators. Decisions on subsidised bus services are a matter for individual English local authorities, in the light of their other spending priorities.

The Department provides around £43 million every year of Bus Subsidy Operators Grant (BSOG) directly to English local authorities to support local bus services. The government recognises the importance of these services and to improve current bus services, or restore lost services where needed, the government will provide an additional £30 million of funding.

The Bus Services Act 2017 provides the tools local authorities need, such as Franchising and Enhanced Partnerships to improve local bus services and increase passenger numbers. We are working with interested local authorities to determine which of the powers provided are best able to support bus networks in their areas.