Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Department's vision for bus services remains vague regarding specific improvements and timelines.
Recommendation
We asked the Department what good performance looks like and when bus services will get there. The Department told us that the bill it is, at time of writing, sponsoring through Parliament sets out a clear vision for the bus sector and that it wants a better-connected, more accessible, reliable, affordable, faster and safer bus system.18 The Department acknowledged that it could do more to set out the overall picture on strategy, roles, funding and reform for the bus sector and promised to do so within 11 C&AG’s report, para 1.9, Figure 5 12 C&AG’s report, para 3.14 13 Qq 3, 11, 17 14 Qq 14, 17 15 Q 3 16 Centre for Cities (LBS0017) 17 Q 24 18 Q 2 10 months, through updated guidance and in its integrated transport strategy.19 But it was too vague about the specific improvements it aims to achieve and by when.20 The Department’s approach to funding
Government Response Summary
The government agreed to set out how it will clearly communicate its vision for bus services, including setting out what outcomes it wants to achieve and by when, with a target implementation date of April 2026, and intends to publish a summary of its vision for, and approach to, bus services in England outside London, and the overall outcomes the department seeks to achieve by the end of this Parliament.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1. PAC conclusion: Bus services have not been good enough for many years, particularly for people in rural areas. 1. PAC recommendation: The department should set out how it will clearly communicate its vision for bus services. This should include setting out what outcomes it wants to achieve and by when. 2 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2026 1.2 The Department for Transport intends to publish a summary of its vision for, and approach to, bus services in England outside London, and the overall outcomes the department seeks to achieve by the end of this Parliament, in the next few months. 1.3 This will restate and build on Ministers’ aim, as set out to the Transport Select Committee and at industry events, that more people will take the bus because: • they have the connections they need; • services are more reliable and they trust that their bus will turn up on time; • buses are better integrated into the wider transport system and it’s easy to make a journey using different transport modes; • they are, and feel, safe – especially for women and girls; • bus services are faster – particularly in towns and cities; • they have accurate, accessible and easy to understand information when and where they need it; • buses, bus stops and bus stations are more accessible and inclusive; • tickets remain affordable; and • it is an increasingly climate and environmentally friendly choice. 1.4 Buses are a public service delivered at the local level, with the actions needed to drive growth in patronage, and which of the above aspects to focus on, varying significantly between local transport authorities. That is why the department is devolving funding and powers to local transport authorities. Given this, and the wider move to greater devolution, the department does not think it would be appropriate to set quantitative targets for national outcomes, which would prejudge local choices and trade-offs. Instead, the department will be monitoring outcomes at the local level through an outcomes framework.