Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Campaign for Better Transport's report, Funding local bus services in England, published in June 2022, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the findings of that report that (a) more than half of areas that applied for more support received no funding and (b) more than a third of the country’s population did not receive funding; and if he will (a) review the competitive funding model and (b) replace that model with long-term funding allocations for all local authorities conditional on achieving certain objectives.

A total of 31 Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs), representing 34 local authority areas, have been selected for funding from the £1.2 billion new dedicated funding announced in April to level up local bus services.

Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) not in receipt of BSIP funding have been offered a further capacity support grant to strengthen their in-house capacity; will be able to access practical assistance, including training, under the auspices of the new Bus Centre of Excellence; and can apply for other government funding sources to improve their bus services and grow bus patronage.

In the Levelling-Up White Paper, the Government recognised the benefits of long-term funding and has committed to simplifying the funding landscape for local authorities.