Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2017 to Question 3183, which local authorities are using the powers in the Bus Services Act 2017 to work with businesses.

The franchising and partnership powers in the Act commenced on 27th June 2017, and it is up to local authorities to put these powers into practice. However, the Government understands, through local engagement, that a number of local authorities are actively engaging with bus operators to determine how best to improve bus services. The Government is not party to local conversations between authorities, bus operators and local businesses.