Home / Sources / Select Committees / Transport Committee / Buses connecting communities
Index live
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

Clear

Reports

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

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
26 Recommendation 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Rejected

Public transport is a major barrier to employment and education for young people.

Public transport remains a major barrier to employment for young people, especially in under-served areas where limited services and high fares make it harder to reach college, training , entry-level jobs, or shift-based work. In some areas, transport is restricting opportunity rather than enabling it. England’s patchwork of local youth … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejects a national approach to youth concessions, citing unaffordability within the current spending review period and stating that local leaders are best placed to decide. It will gather learning from existing schemes and Transport Scotland to inform preparations for future Spending Reviews.
Read full response →
Department for Transport
27 Recommendation 3rd Report – Buses connecting communiti… Rejected

Pilot a free bus pass for under-22s to support access to work and skills.

The Department’s review of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme should consider piloting a free bus pass for under-22s, valid for travel at any time of day. This would support access to work and skills opportunities for younger people and help embed long-term public transport use. (Recommendation, Paragraph 99) A … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejects piloting a free bus pass for under-22s, citing unaffordability within the current spending review period and the belief that local leaders are best placed to make such decisions. It will gather learning from existing schemes and Transport Scotland to inform preparations for …
Read full response →
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