Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure that private bus operators who provide a good service retain a viable role following any review of bus regulation.

The Department for Transport is committed to working at pace with bus operators, local transport authorities and passengers to deliver on the government’s plan for better bus services. For local areas who choose to franchise their bus services, operators will have the opportunity to bid for contracts to run services. The assessment of those bids to determine which local bus operators can best deliver the contracts will be for the franchising authority to conduct. Local transport authorities operating enhanced partnerships rather than franchising to deliver their bus services will continue to work collaboratively with their operators to ensure that standards are improved and maintained as required.