Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Acknowledged
Mandate local authorities publish methodology and develop common standards for socially necessary services.
Conclusion
The Department should mandate local transport authorities to publish a transparent methodology for how they determine which bus services qualify as socially necessary, to ensure public accountability. The Department should also develop common standards, and guidance, which the local formulas should take into account. This would enable residents to verify, for example, whether lists are based on objective assessments of need rather than being a response to the campaigning power of particular communities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 53)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government stated it would clarify aspects related to socially necessary services in the next revision of the franchising guidance, but did not explicitly commit to mandating LTAs to publish transparent methodologies or developing overarching common standards for these assessments.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
We agree with the Committee that there should be greater transparency around how bus services are maintained and operated, and the socially necessary local services measure in the Bus Services (No.2) Bill will support this. The Department will be producing guidance to help LTAs understand the new legislation around socially necessary services. This guidance will include information on the factors that LTAs should consider when conducting their assessment, as well as recommending methodologies that can be used in their decision making. While we believe there would be challenges in setting one standardised approach to this centrally, as the needs of different bus markets vary significantly by place, we expect LTAs to consider the needs of the whole community and be transparent about how they have reached decisions on which routes are designated as socially necessary. LTAs will also be expected to consult a range of stakeholders as part of the decision-making process.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗