← Back to House of Commons Debates
National Bus Strategy: England
15 March 2021
Lead MP
Grant Shapps
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyTransportWomen & EqualitiesLocal Government
Other Contributors: 20
At a Glance
Grant Shapps raised concerns about national bus strategy: england in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Britain's bus services are critical for the country, carrying over 4 billion passengers annually in England. Buses provide essential transportation for key workers and everyday citizens, making them a lifeline during times of crisis such as the pandemic. The current Government aims to revitalise bus services with £3 billion investment, focusing on improving passenger convenience, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Key measures include simpler fares, more integrated ticketing across public transport modes, enhanced accessibility for disabled passengers, and increased use of zero-emission buses. By June 2021, all local authorities will commit to either statutory enhanced partnerships or franchising arrangements with bus operators, leading to the creation of Bus Service Improvement Plans by October 2021. The strategy also outlines a roadmap towards a zero-emission bus fleet, aiming for 4,000 zero-emission buses and ending sales of new diesel buses.
Jim McMahon
Lab
Oldham West and Royton
Question
The Labour shadow asks how the Government will ensure that the new investment reverses the cuts in bus services, restores lost routes, and brings fares down to a reasonable level for passengers. He also questions why it has taken over a year since the initial promise of 4,000 zero-emission buses before any progress is made.
Minister reply
Grant Shapps responds that the Government's £3 billion investment aims to revitalise bus services by improving frequency and accessibility, addressing environmental concerns, and supporting operators through partnerships. He acknowledges past challenges but asserts that the new strategy will deliver on its promises.
Jim McMahon
Lab/Co-op
Oldham West and Royton
Question
The shadow criticises the bus strategy as lacking ambition, not addressing cuts in services and rising prices since 2010, failing to deliver on zero-emission buses, and raising concerns about council budget black holes. He asks how many lost routes will be restored, what will be done to lower fares, and why municipal bus companies are not revisited.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State defends the strategy as ambitious and highlights its goal to make buses more affordable, reliable, and greener by investing £3 billion. He confirms plans for 4,000 electric buses by the end of this Parliament with an initial investment of £120 million. The Minister also mentions creative ideas like local university-run bus companies as part of a flexible approach.
Question
Welcoming the bus strategy, the MP asks how best practices can be made standard and what additional investment can be given to local authorities for establishing a buses champion in each transport authority.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the need for MPs to work with their local authorities on shaping the plan. He mentions £25 million funding by 31 October, expecting every local authority to participate and encouraging Members like Huw Merriman to lead initiatives in their areas.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Question
Welcomes the statement on bus services but criticises the lack of urgency in implementing the strategy, questions why no zero-emission buses have been delivered outside London or Scotland since last spring, asks about commitment to 4,000 green buses and if funding will be Barnettised.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of working together for UK-wide progress, mentions hydrogen dustcarts in Glasgow as an example of collaboration. Confirms that the Barnett formula applies to this strategy.
Imran Ahmad Khan
Lab
Moss Side
Question
Welcomes the new bus strategy and asks about steps to unify bus franchises in West Yorkshire, specifically for Wakefield.
Minister reply
Commits to an integrated, London-style bus system and mentions that local authorities must create plans for multi-use tickets.
Sarah Olney
Lib Dem
Richmond Park
Question
Welcomes the release of 'Bus Back Better' but questions why only a review of part of the Bus Services Act 2017 is committed to, rather than scrapping those provisions entirely.
Minister reply
States that he does not mind who runs bus services as long as they deliver efficient and effective service.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
Expresses concern over the loss of 1,000 jobs in the UK bus and coach industry and questions why it has taken so long to introduce this plan.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the technological challenges with zero-carbon buses but mentions upcoming zero-carbon city announcements.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Question
Welcomes the bus strategy and asks about Cumbria County Council's use of Government funds to improve rural services.
Minister reply
Announces £20 million for rural bus services, with Cumbria receiving £1.5 million.
Brighton Kemptown
Question
Welcomes the strategy and asks about cross-border services and through pricing between authorities.
Minister reply
Commits to paying special attention to ensuring smooth transitions between local authority areas.
James Daly
Con
Heywood and Middleton
Question
Welcomes the announcement and asks if Bury Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, and bus operators will have access to further moneys and support under this strategy.
Minister reply
Confirms that the strategy supports high-quality bus services in outlying areas like Ramsbottom.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
Welcomes aspects of the statement and asks about removing time-consuming barriers to franchising and ensuring local transport authorities receive funding for local priorities.
Minister reply
Acknowledges suggestions but prioritises speed during the crisis, committing to more work on these points.
Question
I welcome the steps outlined in the bus strategy to help operators and local authorities deliver frequent, more reliable, easier-to-use services. More comprehensive bus services will be needed, especially in rural areas such as East Devon, to protect both socially necessary and economically necessary routes and services. What plans does my right hon. Friend have to help people get the bus to work any time of day?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to point out that, particularly in rural areas such as East Devon and in many other parts of the country, the social value of a route is often missed by the current formulas. That is one reason why, with this bus strategy, we have launched a £20 million fund to develop rural services that work better.
Question
As the Member of Parliament whose constituency includes the Wrightbus factory, which has carried out pioneering work—it was the first to produce the hydrogen bus for the UK and the battery diesel bus—I have been pushing the Prime Minister on this for some time. I welcome the statement and the plans to buy British-made buses, but there are many shovel-ready projects available for zero-emission buses across the UK. Under the current plans, the roll-out will not be until 2022? What are we waiting for? Why cannot we get on with it?
Minister reply
I share the hon. Gentleman’s impatience, but the money is for this year. That £120 million for those zero-carbon buses is to be spent on the introduction of those first buses for this year.
Richard Holden
Con
Basildon and Billericay
Question
I warmly welcome the national bus strategy as another key spoke of the levelling up agenda alongside lifelong learning, the levelling-up fund and transport more generally. This is really about delivery, not dogma, and I am glad to see the options available for local authorities as well as the integrated and social nature of some of the funding available. Will the Secretary of State assure me that he will look at services in places in my constituency such as Burnhope and Weardale, which really need extra bus services later in the evenings, for potential pilot schemes?
Minister reply
One of the biggest points about buses is that people want to be able to get them in the evening and at the weekend. When people go somewhere to meet with somebody—those days will come again—buses should not just stop so they cannot get a bus home.
Barnsley South
Question
Spending on bus services in London is £60 higher per person than it is in South Yorkshire, where we have seen funding fall by 40% in the last decade. Any strategy is welcome, but what we really need is investment. What funding can our region expect and by when?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right. That is almost the fundamental point of the strategy. We recognise that London gets fantastic bus services, and we want the rest of the country to get some of it as well. The share is of £3 billion.
Question
I am hugely excited about the opportunities that today’s announcement bring. However, when I have previously shared initiatives from the Department for Transport, the comments page underneath has said something along the lines of, “I’d settle for a bus from Hesketh Bank to Tarleton.” Will the Secretary of State give me and the people of South Ribble the confidence that communities, businesses, educational establishments and industry will be able to input their needs to transform Lancashire’s bus services?
Minister reply
That is absolutely right. I will say how I want this to work. I want Members in this House to have real input into it.
Emma Lewell
Lab
South Shields
Question
The north-east has suffered from under-investment in transport for too long. In 2019, it was revealed that over £3,600 of spend was planned per head for London and just over £500 per head for the north-east. The Prime Minister has said the strategy is an act of levelling up, but we know that phrase is a smokescreen for gifting money to areas that do not need it but happen to have a Tory MP. Will the Secretary of State tell us what criteria will be applied to ensure that this £3 billion is shared fairly among our regions?
Minister reply
First of all, I agree, and I just said, that London has been getting a very nice bite of the cherry with its buses, and we want the rest of the country to get the same.
Question
Many rural communities rely on bus services provided by small, often family-run businesses such as Stanley Travel in my constituency, who have found it hard during covid because they do not have the resource to capital that some larger companies have. What specific help will be available to such companies to ensure that they not only survive but that those important local bus services continue?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. As ever with the coronavirus, those small companies have had a tough time. It is worth mentioning that we put £240 million, and then £27 million a week, into supporting buses.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
Buses provide a lifeline for people in North West Norfolk, but rural areas have seen greater reductions in services. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that Norfolk gets a fair share of this welcome new funding to not only rebuild but enhance services, with later buses and new links, as well as capital for improvements to speed up journeys alongside the coast?
Minister reply
Yes I will. I have no doubt that my hon. Friend will fight for his constituents and his area.
Shadow Comment
Jim McMahon
Shadow Comment
The Labour Party criticises the Government's National Bus Strategy as lacking ambition. Despite its aim to improve bus services, it fails to address cuts in routes and services over the past decade. Since 2010, passenger journeys have fallen yearly outside of London, with 3,000 local authority-supported bus services cut. The strategy falls short on making fares more affordable for passengers and delivering a rapid transition to zero-emission buses as promised by the Prime Minister over a year ago. Labour calls for immediate measures to reverse these cuts and improve fare affordability while supporting the extension of London-style franchise powers across the country.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.