Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Bus Routes: Local Consultation

20 December 2022 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Dean Russell Con Watford

TransportLocal Government

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Dean Russell raised concerns about bus routes: local consultation in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP for Watford raised concerns about recent bus timetable changes affecting constituents' daily lives.
  • The MP highlighted poor communication from operators and unreliable services due to driver shortages.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issues and noted the government's work to improve public information on bus service changes.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Dean Russell Con Watford

The MP for Watford raised concerns about recent changes to bus timetables affecting his constituents' daily lives, including commuting and accessing healthcare. He highlighted issues of poor communication from operators, unreliable services due to driver shortages, and the lack of a legal requirement for consultation before timetable changes. Russell stressed that people's voices should be heard and their needs considered in any changes made by bus companies. He requested greater oversight by local authorities and called for better use of technology to improve information on service disruptions.

Other contributors (1)
  • Nigel Evans Ind Nil

    The Member suggested that there might be other Back Benchers still to speak before the end of the debate.

Government Response

Richard Holden

The Minister thanked Dean Russell for bringing up issues related to bus services in Watford. He acknowledged challenges such as late cancellations, poor communication, and the impact of driver shortages on service reliability. Richard Holden emphasised that the Government is working to improve public information about changes to local bus services through reforms outlined in the national bus strategy. This includes creating an enhanced partnership between operators and councils and developing a new passenger charter with rights for punctuality, proportion of services operated, information provision, and redress. The Minister also discussed initiatives such as the capacity support grant, bus service improvement plans (BSIPs), and measures to prevent significant reductions in bus services due to recovery from COVID-19. He highlighted specific funding allocations like £29.7 million for Hertfordshire County Council and mentioned ongoing efforts to address driver shortages through prioritised testing by DVSA. The Minister concluded with a call to work together on challenges facing the sector, thanking all involved ahead of the Christmas break.

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