Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help improve bus services in Gloucester constituency.

The Government understands the importance of reliable bus services in enabling people to stay connected and access education, work and vital services. We are committed to delivering better bus services and the Bus Services Act 2025 puts passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of local bus services by putting the power back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Gloucester.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in the Spending Review, confirming over £3 billion from 2026/27 to support local leaders and bus operators across the country to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead to improve services for local communities.

Gloucestershire County Council will be allocated £24.9 million under the LABG from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in addition to the £8 million they received in 2025/26. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability.