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Select Committee · Transport Committee

Buses connecting communities

Status: Closed Opened: 28 Nov 2024 Closed: 4 Mar 2026 15 recommendations 18 conclusions 1 report

In many parts of the country, bus services and passenger numbers are in decline. The Transport Committee will examine the role of buses in connecting rural communities with nearby towns and suburban areas. The inquiry will evaluate the effectiveness of recent Government policy in tackling the decline in bus services. It will explore the social … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report – Buses connecting communities HC 494 13 Aug 2025 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
8 Recommendation 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Accepted

Reform the Bus Service Operators Grant to incentivise ridership growth in under-served areas.

The Department should, as soon as practicable, reform the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG). The overarching goal of reform should be to incentivise growth in ridership, particularly across under-served areas, for example instead of mileage the grant could be based on passenger journeys. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it has already taken steps to reform BSOG, including incentives for zero-emission buses and devolving parts of the budget to LTAs. It agrees on growing ridership but expresses caution about passenger-based metrics.
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Department for Transport
18 Conclusion 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Accepted

Local authorities face capacity challenges in implementing bus franchising reforms

We welcome the Government’s ambition to enable local transport authorities to undertake franchising. However, many local authorities continue to face operational and capacity challenges which may be further strained by implementing such a complex reform. The Department must take a greater role in strengthening local authority capacity to ensure effective … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits over £1 billion in the Autumn 2024 Budget to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable in 2025/26, stating it will empower and support local authorities to deliver its vision for bus services.
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Department for Transport
20 Conclusion 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Accepted

Lack of early access to operator data hinders bus franchising decisions

Lack of access to consistent data about current services to support business cases creates an unnecessary barrier to franchising. The Department’s approach puts the cart before the horse: local authorities need access to the full range of relevant information before deciding whether to pursue franchising. (Conclusion, Paragraph 77) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that local transport authorities already have statutory data powers, requiring operators to provide necessary data for franchising assessments. It clarifies that this will be further detailed in the next revision of the franchising guidance.
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Department for Transport
33 Recommendation 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Accepted

Introduce a new regional bus performance metric to compare services and benchmark progress.

This vision should also be complemented by a new regional performance metric that enables meaningful comparison of services across different parts of the country. The metric should cover key indicators such as service frequency, reliability and passenger satisfaction, and it should be used to benchmark progress for improved connectivity across … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation and will implement a new regional performance metric through Outcomes Frameworks for Mayoral Strategic Authorities and a Bus Indicator Pilot, which will be extended to all LTAs from April 2026. This system will cover key indicators for comparison and benchmarking, …
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
14 May 2025 Simon Lightwood MP · Department for Transport, Stephen Fidler · Department for Transport View ↗
26 Mar 2025 Alistair Hands · Arriva Group, Graham Vidler · Confederation of Passenger Transport, Judith Barker · Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Martin Dean · The Go-Ahead Group, Miriam Binsztok · Cornwall Council, Mr Damien Jones · Local Government Association, Mrs Naomi Green · England's Economic Heartland, Stephen Rhodes · Transport for Greater Manchester View ↗
12 Mar 2025 Caroline Whitney · Community Transport Association, James West · Padam Mobility, Max Sugarman · Intelligent Transport Systems UK View ↗
26 Feb 2025 Andrew Summers · Transport East, Mr Ben Simm · Leicestershire County Council, Paul Miner · CPRE - The Countryside Charity, Professor Karen Lucas · University of Manchester, Robert Morton · Unite the Union, Silviya Barrett · Campaign for Better Transport, Simon Mathieson · First bus, Stephen Frost · Institute of Public Policy Research View ↗

Who gave evidence

21 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alistair Hands · Managing Director of Regions Arriva Group 1
Andrew Summers · Chief Executive Transport East 1
Caroline Whitney · Director Community Transport Association 1
Graham Vidler · Chief Executive Confederation of Passenger Transport 1
James West · Business Development Lead Padam Mobility 1
Judith Barker · Executive Director for Places and Connectivity Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority 1
Martin Dean · Managing Director for UK Regional Bus at Go-Ahead The Go-Ahead Group 1
Max Sugarman · Chief Executive Intelligent Transport Systems UK 1
Miriam Binsztok · Transport Co-ordination Services Manager Cornwall Council 1
Mr Ben Simm · Team Manager, Transport Strategy and Policy Leicestershire County Council 1
Mr Damien Jones · Representative Local Government Association 1
Mrs Naomi Green · Managing Director England's Economic Heartland 1
Paul Miner · Head of Policy CPRE - The Countryside Charity 1
Professor Karen Lucas · Head of the Transport and Mobilities Group University of Manchester 1
Robert Morton · National Officer Unite the Union 1
Silviya Barrett · Director of Policy and Campaigns Campaign for Better Transport 1
Simon Lightwood MP · Minister for Local Transport Department for Transport 1
Simon Mathieson · Director of Operational Excellence First bus 1
Stephen Fidler · Director - Buses and Inclusion Department for Transport 1
Stephen Frost · Head of Transport Policy Institute of Public Policy Research 1
Stephen Rhodes · Director of Bus Transport for Greater Manchester 1

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
29 Apr 2025 Formal meeting (private meeting) — · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House