Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
The Government made various commitments in the National Bus Strategy that we welcomed, as did many in the bus sector. It said it would provide new guidance on socially and economically necessary services and on bus franchising. It also suggested it would consider introducing a statutory requirement on local authorities …
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The Government made various commitments in the National Bus Strategy that we welcomed, as did many in the bus sector. It said it would provide new guidance on socially and economically necessary services and on bus franchising. It also suggested it would consider introducing a statutory requirement on local authorities to provide services deemed socially or economically necessary and look again at the ban on new municipal bus companies. Two years on, none of these things have happened and the long-term security of many bus routes that are vital for communities remains uncertain. The Minister told us to expect announcements in late 2022, but we were disappointed. While we accept the last two years has been a busy time for the Department, we urge the Government to put its promises into action. (Paragraph 77) Zero-emission buses
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Government response AI summary
The Government plans to publish new guidance on SENS during this Parliament and will consider statutorily requiring the provision of socially and economically necessary bus services if objectives are not achieved by agreement; revised franchising guidance will be published as soon as possible, and a …
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Department for Transport
9
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Government’s plans to phase out non-zero-emission buses. It will be expensive and, in the short-term at least, difficult on longer and more rural routes, but it is necessary. However, we note that decarbonising buses will only take the Government so far towards its objective. Wider transport decarbonisation …
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We welcome the Government’s plans to phase out non-zero-emission buses. It will be expensive and, in the short-term at least, difficult on longer and more rural routes, but it is necessary. However, we note that decarbonising buses will only take the Government so far towards its objective. Wider transport decarbonisation will require it to achieve the aims of the Strategy by increasing bus usage and therefore achieve modal shift from the private car. This ultimately depends on provision of reliable, frequent services. A debate should be had about whether this would be supported by a Department for Transport target to reduce car usage in England by the end of the decade, such as those seen in Scotland and Wales.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, noting it consulted on an end date for non-zero emission buses in Spring 2022 and will shortly make an announcement, including the UK’s roadmap to achieving an entirely ZEB fleet but does not at present agree with government investment …
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Department for Transport
10
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
We support the Government’s ambition to have 4,000 new zero-emission buses on the road in the UK by the end of this Parliament and welcome the funding it has allocated to meet this aim. However, it seems increasingly unlikely it will meet its target, given how few of these vehicles …
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We support the Government’s ambition to have 4,000 new zero-emission buses on the road in the UK by the end of this Parliament and welcome the funding it has allocated to meet this aim. However, it seems increasingly unlikely it will meet its target, given how few of these vehicles are now on the road. Currently the funding process is slow and piecemeal. It is too easy for local authorities to put off placing orders despite being given the money to do so and too difficult for UK manufacturers to invest with confidence in new types of vehicle and new manufacturing hubs. In some cases, orders using tens of millions of pounds of public money are being made to overseas manufacturers, with a commensurate impact on domestic vehicle production and threat to the UK bus industry. UK bus manufacturers have called on UK ZEB funding schemes to incentivise UK ZEB orders over overseas orders thereby supporting UK manufacturing. We support those calls and call on the Government to work with the sector to facilitate such incentives.
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Government response AI summary
The government will announce an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses and publish the consultation response; it will also set out the UK’s roadmap to achieving an entirely ZEB fleet, and outlines existing funding and schemes for ZEBs, but does not …
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Department for Transport
11
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
If the Government is to meet its target it will need to intervene in the process more actively. We note that Scotland’s scheme in which operators bid for funding centrally, thereby cutting out the middleman, has allowed Scotland to power ahead with its 42 Implementation of the National Bus Strategy …
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If the Government is to meet its target it will need to intervene in the process more actively. We note that Scotland’s scheme in which operators bid for funding centrally, thereby cutting out the middleman, has allowed Scotland to power ahead with its 42 Implementation of the National Bus Strategy bus decarbonisation plans. According to the Secretary of State’s own December 2022 figures, Scotland has ordered 10.11 ZEBs per 100,000 people compared to 0.94 ZEBs per 100,000 people in England outside London.
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Government response AI summary
The government will announce an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses and publish the consultation response; it will also set out the UK’s roadmap to achieving an entirely ZEB fleet, and outlines existing funding and schemes for ZEBs, but does not …
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Department for Transport
12
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
We are not convinced by the Government’s argument that incentivising the purchase of a zero-emission buses will no longer be necessary once their lifetime cost decreases to that of comparable diesel buses. The up-front cost of ZEBs will remain higher, especially when the cost of upgrading and replacing infrastructure is …
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We are not convinced by the Government’s argument that incentivising the purchase of a zero-emission buses will no longer be necessary once their lifetime cost decreases to that of comparable diesel buses. The up-front cost of ZEBs will remain higher, especially when the cost of upgrading and replacing infrastructure is included. That will be enough to put off many potential buyers. If zero-emission buses are the right choice to meet this country’s Net Zero goals, as the Government has said, then it should not leave the job half-done.
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Government response AI summary
The government will announce an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses, publish the consultation response, and set out the UK's roadmap to achieving an entirely ZEB fleet; they also highlight the funding already awarded for ZEBs. However, they did not specifically …
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Department for Transport
13
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
The Government should set out a clear, staged plan for the full transition to zero- emission buses, in tandem with the delayed response to its consultation on ending the sale of non-zero-emission buses. This should include a clear long-term funding plan focussed in particular on difficult to decarbonise rural routes …
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The Government should set out a clear, staged plan for the full transition to zero- emission buses, in tandem with the delayed response to its consultation on ending the sale of non-zero-emission buses. This should include a clear long-term funding plan focussed in particular on difficult to decarbonise rural routes and supporting the installation of costly new infrastructure. It should keep an open mind about whether this transition could also involve synthetic fuels alongside battery electric and hydrogen vehicles.
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Government response AI summary
The government will announce an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses and publish the consultation response; it will also set out the UK’s roadmap to achieving an entirely ZEB fleet, but it rejects further consideration of synthetic fuels for buses.
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Department for Transport
14
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
Reforming the Bus Services Operators Grant will be complicated and may prove controversial, but it is necessary. Successive Governments have accepted that, and promised to act, but little progress has been made. Further delay risks slowing the transition to zero-emission buses. A new formula could and should accelerate it. Enough …
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Reforming the Bus Services Operators Grant will be complicated and may prove controversial, but it is necessary. Successive Governments have accepted that, and promised to act, but little progress has been made. Further delay risks slowing the transition to zero-emission buses. A new formula could and should accelerate it. Enough time has passed for all options to be considered; what is needed is action.
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Government response AI summary
The government has introduced a 22p per km rate for ZEBs through BSOG and is working on proposals for a consultation on reforming the Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG) to modernize and future-proof the grant; the consultation will include a proposal on changes to the …
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Department for Transport
15
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Implementation of the N…
Accepted in Part
The Government must consult on Bus Services Operators Grant reform now and proceed as quickly as is feasible to introduce a new funding formula which incentivises operators to transition to zero-emission buses. (Paragraph 110) Conclusion
Government response AI summary
The government has introduced a 22p per km rate for ZEBs through BSOG and is working on proposals for a consultation on reforming the Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG) to modernize and future-proof the grant; the consultation will include a proposal on changes to the …
Read full response →
Department for Transport