Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the affordability of bus fares.

The Government recognises the importance of affordable public transport. While decisions on the level of fares are for commercial operators, the Government recognised in the National Bus Strategy the need to make bus services cheaper.

We are providing over £1 billion to Local Transport Authorities to help make bus services cheaper. We are also providing £60 million to cap single bus fares across England at £2 from 1 January to 31 March.

The £2 bus fare cap is not only an innovative way of helping people save money on their transport costs, but it helps to take 2 million car journeys off our roads. There are 4,600 routes across England in the scheme, including the 44 bus from Nottingham and the 53 and 39 buses.

I would be delighted to visit you on your constituency soon.