Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle changes in average bus speeds.

The government is committed to working with local transport authorities and the bus sector to deliver better, more reliable services for passengers.

At the Budget, the government confirmed over £1 billion in funding to improve bus services, protect vital routes and keep fares down. This includes over £700 million allocated to local councils to deliver bus service improvement plans (BSIPs). Councils can use the funding in whichever way they wish to improve bus services for all passengers, including investing in infrastructure or bus priority schemes to help reduce journey times.

We introduced the Bus Services Bill on 17 December, which will give local leaders the powers they need and the freedom to take decisions to deliver their local transport priorities and ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them.