Recommendation 21

HM Government Acknowledged

Our National Bus Strategy sets out how we will deliver better bus services for passengers, through ambitious and far-reaching reform of how services are planned and delivered. We asked all English Local Transport Authorities outside London to publish Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) by 31 October, setting out local visions for the step-change in bus services that is needed, driven by what passengers and would-be passengers want. We want improvements to be delivered through either franchising arrangements or statutory Enhanced Partnerships between local authorities and bus operators, using the existing powers in the Bus Services Act 2017. The Government recognises that the transport needs of communities in rural areas differ from those in urban environments for a variety of reasons including demographics, lower population density and travel distances. Local Transport Authorities covering predominantly rural areas, like all Local Transport Authorities, have had an opportunity to set out the needs and requirements of their areas in their BSIPs. The Government takes account of the transport needs of all users in different environments but is also mindful of the differing impact funding policies may have on rural and urban areas. When reviewing funding sources and policies for transport, the impact of proposals on rural areas is a key consideration. Under the National Bus Strategy, the Government is consulting on reforms to the Bus Service Operators Grant, reviewing the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, including the eligibility of disabled people for free bus travel to ensure that we are improving equality of opportunity and issuing socially necessary services guidance with the needs of rural areas in mind. The Government wants to see long-term sustainable local transport provision in rural areas and is committed to finding solutions which ensure that local communities in these areas have viable and improved transport services. Finally, the Government acknowledges the important role the light rail and tram sector plays in local public transport networks. Throughout the pandemic, the Government has been committed to supporting these systems maintain appropriate service levels, providing Local Transport Authorities with over £200 million in funding from March 2020 to July 2021, to ensure local people can access jobs, amenities, and education. As restrictions have been lifted, the Government has maintained its support in the form of recovery funding of up to £56 million from July 2021 to April 2022. These packages show our understanding of the positive externalities these systems deliver to the public, local economies and other sectors such as hospitality and retail. The Government has also enabled further investment and expansion of Light Rail schemes through funding packages to cities in recent years, including the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), a £5.7 billion capital investment fund, which will deliver transformative economic, social, and environmental change in eight of the largest urban centres in England from 2022-2023 to 2026-2027. This is expected to provide funding for further Light Rail investments across city regions in England.