Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of public subsidy provided to the Bee Network in Greater Manchester.

The Government is committed to supporting local leaders to deliver high-quality local transport services because we know how important this is for access to education, employment and vital local services.

Over this spending review period we're providing a significant amount of funding, and local leaders can decide how best to use this funding to improve services for passengers, including supporting the Bee Network in the case of Greater Manchester.

We have allocated £3.69bn of transport funding for 2022 - 2032 through the devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement/Transport for City Regions funding, Local Authority Bus Grant funding, Active Travel funding and consolidated Active Travel fund, which the Greater Manchester Combined Authority can use for its Bee Network and wider transport activity.

This funding empowers Mayors to invest in transport projects that will make a difference to their local area, and which meet local objectives and needs. The Integrated Settlement also consolidates other transport funding streams, which creates further flexibility for Mayors.