Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with Wakefield Council to improve bus services in Wakefield, in the context of the recent closure of the Wakefield bus depot.

At present, decisions such as where to run bus services in England outside London are predominantly a matter for the relevant bus operator. In response to this, the government has set out a plan to improve bus services based on giving local leaders the tools they require to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities they serve.

Government intends to bring forward a Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session and government has also committed to increasing accountability by providing safeguards over local networks across the country and empowering local transport authorities through reforms to bus funding.

The Department for Transport is already engaging with local leaders and bus operators, including in West Yorkshire, to provide the tools they need to deliver the services that best meet local needs.