Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question arises from the government's policy on bus fare caps in England outside London, aiming to make travel more affordable for passengers.
What assessment has been made of the potential implications for the policies regarding the cost of bus fares? I warmly welcome the Government's support, which is making bus journeys across Keighley and our wider area much more affordable. As a result of the bus service improvement plan, as from last month we have a new £1 zone in Keighley, making travel around the town much more affordable.
This Government certainly do. I thank my hon. Friend for raising our commitment to supporting bus services, not just in his constituency but right across the country. This is just a small part of the £3.5 billion we have invested in bus services, with much more to come, including our recent announcement of another £150 million for the bus service improvement plan from the money for Network North, starting next year.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The Government announced an indicative additional bus service improvement plan worth more than £13 million for West Yorkshire.
As a result of the bus service improvement plan, as from last month we have a new £1 zone in Keighley, making travel around the town much more affordable. Moreover, a single ticket for other journeys costs just £2, thanks to the Government. Does my hon. Friend agree that this demonstrates that our Conservative Government recognise the importance of local, affordable travel links that help to support our communities?
This Government certainly do. I thank my hon. Friend for raising our commitment to supporting bus services, not just in his constituency but right across the country. This is just a small part of the £3.5 billion we have invested in bus services, with much more to come, including our recent announcement of another £150 million for the bus service improvement plan from the money for Network North, starting next year.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
In South Yorkshire, since 2010, bus passenger miles have dropped by 50%, resulting in many communities being cut off from essential services.
Let me put this in context. In South Yorkshire, since 2010, bus passenger miles have dropped by 50%, which is a catastrophic fall in the use of our bus services. The cuts to services mean that many communities are now cut off completely. When the Government came to allocate the recent funding, did they take account of the fact that South Yorkshire had previously had no BSIP funding whatsoever? Adding the current funding to the previous funding, South Yorkshire has had far less per passenger head than other parts of the country.
I would welcome an Adjournment debate on South Yorkshire buses, if the hon. Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) were to put in for one. I spoke to the Mayor of South Yorkshire just this week, and he said that the authority will need around £8 million next year to put back all the services that have been removed over the past few years. In our Network North allocation, it is getting £67.8 million next year. On top of that, he is getting another £3 million in BSIP funding next year.
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Assessment & feedback
The exact discrimination against South Yorkshire was not directly addressed
Welcoming An Adjournment Debate
Suggesting Further Discussion
Response accuracy