Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to identifying additional financial resources for (a) bus operators and (b) passenger transport authorities in the North East to help ensure continuation of bus services after the end of the Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant.

The Department has been working closely with bus operators to understand the issues they face in providing services whilst ensuring social distancing for both passengers and staff. We are also working urgently to provide further support to the bus sector to enable operators, working with local transport authorities, to ramp up service provision for people returning to work. An announcement will be made shortly on the further support that will be provided.