Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
The Government should commission and publish an independent analysis of the first tranche of Bus...
Recommendation
The Government should commission and publish an independent analysis of the first tranche of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding. It should then consult on the structure and aims of a further disbursement of ‘transformation’ funding. Underpinning this should be a firm commitment to make available significant further funding to support the implementation of the National Bus Strategy. (Paragraph 59) Implementation of the National Bus Strategy 41 Models of delivery
Government Response Summary
The government has commissioned the Bus Transformation evaluation to understand which interventions improve bus services and assess the National Bus Strategy, with findings due in March 2025, and outlines existing funding commitments, but doesn't directly address consulting on further funding disbursement.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government has noted this recommendation. In August 2022 we commissioned the Bus Transformation evaluation. This includes the delivery of programme level monitoring and process, impact and value for money evaluation of initiatives implemented through Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). The contract also includes evidence synthesis, analysis and reporting of wider monitoring and evaluation of activities that sit under the National Bus Strategy. The evaluation aims to: • Understand which interventions improve bus services, where, when and how • Build a comprehensive understanding of the impact and effectiveness of BSIPs and wider bus investments • To identify best practice and lessons learnt • Assess the extent to which the National Bus Strategy meets its objectives. The contract is due to end in March 2025. We will publish the final findings and, where possible, will publish and share learnings with external stakeholders at the interim stages. The 2021 Spending Review set out that over £1 billion of transformational funding would be available for implementation of Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). This funding has now been fully allocated. Our announcement on 17 May 2023 included £160m additional funding to be provided to LTAs through a Bus Service Improvement Plan plus (BSIP+) mechanism focused on improving bus services in local areas, whilst allowing local authorities to make local decisions on protecting services. £8.8 billion was announced at Spring Budget to transform local transport networks in city regions across England, through a second round of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) programme for five years from 2027. This builds on the unprecedented investment package of £5.7 billion between 2022/23–26/27 for eight Mayoral Combined Authorities. In addition to our plans to reform the Bus Service Operator Grant, we have also announced plans to further support the bus sector from the end of June 2023, when current recovery funding ends, through a further £140m to be provided to operators through a Bus Service Operators Grant plus (BSOG+) mechanism.