Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of lower cost public transport on local economies.

The Department for Transport evaluated the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), which distributed over £500 million to local areas between 2011-2015. Local authorities invested the funding in schemes to increase bus and rail patronage and active travel (cycling and walking), and complementary initiatives such as new bus services, cycle training and travel support for job-seekers.

The evaluation, which is available on the Gov.UK website, shows that the LSTF had a range of positive effects for local economies, including enhancing town centre vitality, helping jobseekers into work, and helping business with recruitment.