Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the definition is of socially necessary networks in the National Bus Strategy.

Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) have the ability to subsidise bus services that are not commercially viable and which they determine necessary for their local area. As outlined in the Strategy, we expect LTAs in collaboration with bus operators to deliver more comprehensive, socially necessary services, including services to smaller and isolated places and more services in the evenings and at weekends.

We will issue further guidance on the meaning and role of socially necessary services in due course.