Select committee: Transport Committee
Conclusion 12
Fourth Report - Implementation of the National Bus Strategy
Published 30 Mar 2023
Paragraph 103
Addressed to Department for Transport
Transport Committee National bus strategy: one year on All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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.
From: Transport Committee, Fourth Report - Implementation of the National Bus Strategy (HC 161), paragraph 103, 30 March 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 June 2023 (deadline 30 May 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response welcomes the report and states that it is "absolutely committed to delivering the aims of the National Bus Strategy", with recommendations variously accepted, partially accepted or noted.
- On Enhanced Partnerships (Recommendation 2), it "accepts this recommendation" and says it is working with local transport authorities and operators "to monitor how well they are working".
- On guidance and municipal bus companies (Recommendation 3), it accepts the recommendations on franchising and municipal companies and partially accepts the one on socially and economically necessary services, planning to publish new guidance "during this Parliament".
- On zero-emission buses (Recommendation 4), it "partially accepts", says it will "shortly make an announcement on the end of sales date", and says it will "explore any future innovation with an open mind" on synthetic fuels.
- On Bus Service Operators Grant reform (Recommendation 5), it "partially accepts" and will publish a consultation "later this year", but says it "cannot confirm the exact content of the reformed BSOG" until evidence is analysed.