Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help expand flexible transport options in rural areas.

The Department published Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Best Practice Guidance last December. It provides local authorities with a guide to setting up and deploying DRT schemes, from planning and procurement through to launching and sustaining services. It encourages local authorities to engage with community transport providers and others when designing a DRT scheme to meet an identified need.

The Government is providing local transport authorities with long-term funding and greater flexibility to improve transport in rural areas, including through DRT where this is the most appropriate solution. The Local Authority Bus Grant can be used to support new services, including DRT in areas with limited or no conventional bus provision, while authorities can also use wider local transport funding settlements to support flexible rural transport solutions alongside traditional bus services.

As part of this commitment, the Government will provide over £3 billion between 2026/27 and 2028/29 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services, including around £700 million per year through the Local Authority Bus Grant to help maintain and improve services, support rural connectivity and invest in infrastructure such as bus stops, depots and real-time passenger information. Smaller cities, towns and rural areas will receive £2.3 billion through the Local Transport Grant, giving local leaders greater certainty and flexibility to align transport investment with local needs.

Collaboration with partner agencies and within different parts of a local authority (such as between transport and health and adult social care) can support the development of a flexible transport offer in the most efficient and effective way, potentially even through ‘co-mingling’ (shared use of vehicles to provide different services).

The Department has also published guidance on enhanced partnerships and a bus franchising manual, which includes how DRT may operate within those contexts.