Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to announce their policy on buses to ensure that the Traffic Commissioners have sufficient notice before timetable changes need to be made.

As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this session. This will put the power over bus services in the hands of local leaders across England, ensuring networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them. The Bill will increase powers available to local leaders to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership. The government will ensure that stakeholders, including the Traffic Commissioners, are properly engaged on the proposals during the Bill's development.