Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the recent £2 million Bus Service Improvement Plan funding allocated to Dorset Council is effectively utilised to enhance bus services in underserved rural communities within West Dorset.

The Government is committed to seeing better, more reliable bus services delivered right across England, including in West Dorset and other rural communities.

Local transport authorities are encouraged to use funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) on schemes that they, and local operators, believe will deliver the best overall outcomes in growing long term patronage, revenues and therefore maintaining service levels, whilst ensuring essential social and economic connectivity for local communities.

This will be different for each area. We believe local leaders know their areas best and so are best placed to make decisions about how to improve services to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.