Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve rural bus services in South Northamptonshire.

The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities that rely on them right across England, including in rural areas in South Northamptonshire.

In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council have been allocated £5.2 million and £5.4 million respectively. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.