Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric buses have been provided to Newcastle upon Tyne through his Department's policies in each of the last five years.

The Department has provided funding to bus operator Go North East to support the introduction of 18 electric buses and charging infrastructure over the last five years.

In 2019, the Department awarded £1,330,005 in funding from the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme to Go North East for nine electric buses and charging infrastructure. These buses were introduced into Go North East’s services in Newcastle and Gateshead in November 2020.

In March 2021, the Department awarded £1,270,005 in funding from the Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme to Go North East for a further nine electric buses and charging infrastructure. These buses are expected to enter service on Go North East’s services in Newcastle and Gateshead in 2022.

In addition to this, Transport North East are currently working with the department to produce a business case to secure funding for further electric buses under the standard process of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme. The department will select successful business cases and award funding by March 2022.