Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to secure less profitable rural bus routes and prevent an increase in rural isolation.
The Government recognises the importance of public transport in reducing social isolation, particularly in rural areas. Where there is not enough demand for a bus route to be commercially viable, all local authorities in England have powers to subsidise bus services. The Department provides £43 million per year to local authorities to support this. As part of the 2018-19 local government finance settlement, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government responded to a number of councils’ concerns over rural services funding by increasing the Rural Services Delivery Grant to £81 million. The 2019-20 settlement increased the Grant to the same level. This recognises the extra costs of providing services in rural communities. It is up to local government officials to decide how this funding is distributed.