Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to allow county councils to take control of their local bus services.

Buses are the most commonly used mode of public transport in Britain, and good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. The Government is determined to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. We have set out our plan to achieve this, centred around supporting local transport authorities to take back control of local bus services.

In order to give control back to local leaders, we will pass the Better Buses Bill and review existing guidance for local authorities. We want to make bus franchising quicker, easier and cheaper to deliver, for all types of local authority, as well as removing the existing ban on the creation of new municipal bus companies. We will refocus the Department to provide help and support to local authorities to make franchising – and other models where they are preferred locally – a success.