Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to improve rural bus services in Hitchin and Harpenden constituency.

Whilst it is for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to determine and prioritise investment in local transport, the Government’s National Bus Strategy asked all LTAs to publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) covering the full area, including parts with differing needs, such as rural elements. Hertfordshire County Council submitted a high-quality BSIP. On 8 August 2022, the Department wrote to the Council’s Transport Director, confirming their funding allocation of up to £29,732,100 (of which £13,190,400 is capital and £16,541,700 is revenue) to support delivery of the BSIP.

We have also announced a further six-month extension to the Bus Recovery Grant to provide up to £130m to continue supporting bus services in England outside London from October until March 2023.